Mr. President, I have sought recognition to vigorously, enthusiastically support the nomination of U.S. district court judge Thomas I. Vanaskie for the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Judge Vanaskie is someone known to me personally for the better part of two, perhaps even three decades as a practicing lawyer in Pennsylvania, as a judge on the Middle District Court. I had the privilege of recommending him, originally, for the district court during the Clinton administration. I have had the privilege of joining with Senator Casey in recommending him to President Obama for the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Judge Vanaskie has a spectacular record. He is a graduate of Lycoming College, in 1975, with a BA degree, magna cum laude; Dickinson Law School in 1978, cum laude. He was a law clerk to Judge William Nealon from 1978 through 1980. For those who know Judge Nealon, he is a masterful judge, a paragon, a great person to learn from. Judge Vanaskie was in private practice in Scranton from 1980 to 1994. He was confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on February 10, 1994. Judge Vanaskie has been awaiting confirmation for some time now. He has had his hearing. He was reported out of the Judiciary Committee by a vote of 16 to 3. He is an outstanding jurist.…
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