On the recordFebruary 25, 2010
In the summer of 2009, Senator Webb and I had the honor of interviewing several potential candidates to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. We were enormously impressed by the quality of all the candidates being considered. But one candidate rose to the top of the list for her extensive experience, judicial temperament, and commitment to the law. This candidate was Justice Barbara Keenan. President Obama nominated Justice Keenan on September 14, 2009. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the nomination where members of the committee were given the opportunity to engage Justice Keenan in a question-and-answer session. On October 29, 2009, the members of the committee reported the nomination by unanimous consent. Justice Keenan's nomination has been on the Senate Calendar for 4 months now. I believe it is time for this Chamber to consider the nomination and give Justice Keenan an up-or-down vote. Justice Keenan has strong academic credentials. She graduated from Cornell University in 1971 and received her law degree from the George Washington University Law School in 1974. She also earned a master of laws degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1992. Justice Keenan has served with distinction at every level of State court in Virginia. She has served as a justice on the Virginia Supreme Court since 1991.
