I have had the pleasure of knowing Tim and his lovely wife, Nancy, quite well for over 25 years, going back to the time when he was in Washington with the Judge Advocate General Corps. I know his work in Oklahoma primarily through reputation, but I do know Tim and I know his family. I know the kinds of high standards, the great ability, and intellect that he has, and I appreciate the opportunity to join with my colleagues in Oklahoma in saying that this is one of the outstanding candidates who has been nominated, and I certainly can think of no finer action that the Senate can take than to move expeditiously on this confirmation. I appreciate very much the time, and I certainly add my wholehearted personal endorsement to this nomination. Senator KOHL. Thank you, Senator Bond. Thank you, gentlemen. Judge Randa, would you like to step forward now with Senator Kasten? Senator Kasten. STATEMENT OF HON. ROBERT W. KASTEN, JR., A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF WISCONSIN Senator KASTEN. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much, and let me first of all say how pleased I am to see you chairing this hearing, but also how pleased I am to be here this morning to introduce and, more importantly, to highly recommend to your committee Judge Rudolph T. Randa. As you, Mr. Chairman, are well aware, Judge Randa has been nominated by the President to fill the open judgeship of the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. I wasn't surprised when Judge Randa was one of the five candidates that was considered most qualified by the Federal merit selection commission which, included members chosen by you, Mr. Chairman, the State Bar of Wisconsin, and also me. The commission had the difficult job of reviewing the credentials of 22 highly qualified individuals. Though the qualifications of the five individuals recommended by the commission reflected the high caliber of jurists and practitioners that we have in Wisconsin, I was pleased to recommend to the President the fine jurist that we have here with me today and that we will hear from later. Judge Randa has distinguished himself as both a practicing attorney and as a jurist in Wisconsin's fine judicial system. He has practiced on his own, served for 5 years in the Milwaukee city attorney's office, and then served since 1975 as a judge on various courts. Prior to his current position as Milwaukee county circuit court judge, which he has held for 10 years, Judge Randa served as both a Milwaukee municipal court judge and as a Milwaukee County circuit judge, as well as on two different panels of our State's court of appeals. Mr. Chairman, though we all wish it were not so, Wisconsin, and particularly the southeastern part of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee area, has been hard hit by crime and drug problems that plague this Nation. Beyond the sadness that such problems mean to the individuals involved as victims, a severe strain is put on the whole judicial system as criminal cases must take precedence over civil matters. The eastern district bench needs the current vacancy to be filled as soon as possible, and I know that you, Mr. Chairman, are personally aware of this. Working on the premise that justice delayed is justice denied, the 19-month time period that civil matters take to get through the eastern district must be reduced. Mr. Chairman, both of us recognize that a great step in that direction would be the expedited confirmation of Judge Rudolph Randa. am pleased that Randy has his two sons, Rudolph and Daniel, and his wife, Melinda, behind me; also, Melinda's mother and other relatives. They are here today to share this important occasion with Randy, and I also, Mr. Chairman, want to say that last night the family ventured to Baltimore. The idea was to watch the Brewers defeat the local team up there, the Orioles, which didn't happen; but they are all watching here today, and today makes their trip worthwhile. We couldn't bring a Brewers win, but today makes their trip worthwhile, and I know that all the people behind me are proud of their father, their husband, and their son-in-law. I wish to thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing, for your efforts to see that the federal judgeship vacancy in the Eastern District of Wisconsin is filled as quickly as possible. I give Judge Randa my very highest recommendation. I look forward to working with you, Mr. Chairman, in expediting this nomination. Thank you very much. Senator KOHL. Thank you very much, Senator Kasten. Judge Rudolph Randa is a very good example of Wisconsin's fine education system. Judge Randa was born and raised in Milwaukee. He attended Riverside University High School and he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1963 and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1966. Judge Randa has an extensive public service career, including time spent at the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice and with the city of Milwaukee, as well as serving as a judge of the Milwaukee Municipal Court, the Milwaukee Circuit Court, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, and finally as judge of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Obviously, Judge Randa has had vast experience, and the American Bar Association agrees. Judge Randa was unanimously rated qualified by the Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary of the ABA. As with most Federal circuits, the Eastern District of Wisconsin has a lengthy backlog of cases. The sooner the opening created by Judge Warren's senior status can be filled, the better off the people of Wisconsin will be. I congratulate Judge Randa on his nomination and we welcome him on behalf of the Judiciary Committee. Judge RANDA. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Senator THURMOND. We are glad to have you. Thank you for coming. Senator KASTEN. Thank you, Strom. Senator KOHL. Senator Seymour, would you like to bring up your two nominees? Senator SEYMOUR. Yes, I would, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that. STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN SEYMOUR, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA Senator SEYMOUR. Chairman Kohl, distinguished Senator Thurmond, thank you for allowing me the distinct pleasure to introduce Ms. Lourdes Baird, an exceptional nominee to the U.S. District Court for California's Central District. We often speak of America as the land of opportunity, but it takes a remarkable story of an extraordinary person like Lourdes Baird to show us that the promise of this Nation is still alive. Her story is one of courage, of perseverance, and of creating one's own opportunity on the strength of character. Ms. Baird came to the United States as a child from Ecuador, and after raising her five children in the rough-and-tumble streets of Los Angeles, she returned to school and set out on a new path of self-improvement. Graduating at the top of her class from UCLA Law School was just the beginning of her late-starting but exceptionally devoted academic career, and since then Ms. Baird has served California's legal and judicial professions, as well as America's law enforcement community, with distinction. Ms. Baird's credentials for this post are impeccable. She has experience as a Federal prosecutor from her service as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California from 1977 to 1983, and as our current U.S. attorney for the same district since 1990. She has 3 years of experience in private practice as a partner in the firms of Baird & Quadros, and Baird, Munger & Myers, and she has prior judicial experience in the East Los Angeles Municipal Court, the Los Angeles Municipal Court, and the Los Angeles Superior Court. But to fully appreciate Lourdes Baird, one needs to look beyond her professional achievements to the leadership she has provided to her community. Lourdes Baird has been and continues to be a strong, articulate advocate of women's and Hispanic issues. Ms. Baird also taught trial advocacy as an adjunct professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. I would like to congratulate Ms. Baird for the award she won last year from the UCLA Law School as Alumnus of the Year, and from the Hispanic Women's Council as Woman of Promise. But these accolades, while wholly appropriate, only recognize part of her personal strength. Lourdes Baird is more than a role model for women, more than a role model for Hispanics. Ms. Baird is an exceptionally capable and competent role model for people of all races and genders, because she has the strength, the determination, and the courage to believe in her dreams. It is a pleasure and an honor, Mr. Chairman, to introduce to the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee Ms. Lourdes Baird. Ms. BAIRD. Thank you. Senator SEYMOUR. Mr. Chairman and Senator Thurmond, it is my distinct pleasure and honor to introduce Judge Irma Gonzalez to the Judiciary Committee, an outstanding nominee to the Federal court in California's Southern District. With her today are her husband and daughter, and both are equally proud of her. She is a Californian by birth and a graduate of Stanford University. Judge Gonzalez began her distinguished legal career in the Grand Canyon State of Arizona, where she attended the University of Arizona School of Law. Following graduation, she served for 2 years as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge William C. Frey in Tucson, and then served for 4 years as an assistant U.S. attorney. In 1979, she returned to the Golden State and specifically, to Los Angeles, where she worked as a trial attorney for the Department of Justice and then as assistant U.S. attorney. In 1981, she moved to San Diego where she practiced as an associate attorney for the firm of Seltzer, Caplan, Wilkins & McMahon. Beginning in 1984, Judge Gonzalez served as a U.S. magistrate for the U.S. District Court in San Diego. In January, 1991, after 7 years of distinguished service as a magistrate, she was appointed to serve as a judge of the California Superior Court in Vista, where she continues to serve with distinction. Of equal importance in knowing Irma Gonzalez, the State judge, is appreciating Irma Gonzalez, the private citizen. Indeed, she has devoted countless hours of service to her community. She has served as chairperson of the Girl Scout Women's Advisory Cabinet, as a member of the board of trustees of the San Diego Museum of Man, and is still a member of the San Diego mayor's Citizen Advisory Board on Police-Community Relations. Mr. Chairman, it fills me with immeasurable pride when I speak of Californians who have distinguished themselves in their profession and in their community. It is an even greater pleasure to recommend such extraordinary individuals to positions on the Federal bench. I am seated next to such a distinguished person. Irma Gonzalez, whether as lawyer, judge, community leader, wife and mother, has pursued life with energy, dedication, and distinction. I have great confidence that she will bring those same qualities, that same boundless spirit, to the Federal bench as a U.S. district court judge. Again, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, it is my pleasure to introduce an extraordinary Californian, Judge Irma Gonzalez. Judge GONZALEZ. Thank you. Senator KOHL. Thank you very much. Judge Gonzalez, I understand from Senator DeConcini that you grew up in Tucson, AZ. Senator DeConcini had expected to be here, had wanted to be here, but he is unable to be here this morning. But he is going to insert a strong recommendation in the record on behalf of your nomination. Judge GONZALEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [The prepared statement of Senator DeConcini, along with correspondence, follow:] STATEMENT OF SENATOR DECONCINI CONFIRMATION HEARING OF JUDGE IRMA GONZALEZ MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THE HONORABLE IRMA E. GONZALEZ TO BE A UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT JUDGE GONZALEZ IS THE FIRST HISPANIC TO BE NOMINATED FOR THE FEDERAL BENCH IN SAN DIEGO. I BELIEVE SHE HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND TO BE AN EXCELLENT ADDITION TO THE FEDERAL BENCH. AS A SENATOR WHO REPRESENTS ARIZONA, I CONSIDER JUDGE GONZALEZ TO BE ONE OF OUR OWN. SHE AND HER FAMILY ARE LONGTIME RESIDENTS OF TUCSON. AFTER GRADUATING FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY, JUDGE GONZALEZ RETURNED TO HER HOME TOWN TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA SCHOOL OF LAW. AFTER LAW SCHOOL, SHE CLERKED FOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE WILLIAM FREY. JUDGE GONZALEZ HAS DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING ABILITIES THROUGH A WIDE ARRAY OF POSITIONS. AFTER HER FEDERAL JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP, SHE WAS AN ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY IN TUCSON FOR FOUR YEARS. SHE WAS A TRIAL ATTORNEY FOR THE ANTITRUST DIVISION OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. FROM THERE SHE SERVED AS AN ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA. AFTER A FEW YEARS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, JUDGE GONZALEZ SERVED AS A UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA. SINCE JANUARY 1991, SHE HAS SERVED AS A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. NOT ONLY DOES JUDGE GONZALEZ HAVE A DISTINGUISHED LEGAL RECORD, BUT SHE HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN HER COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, WHEN COMMITTEE STAFF CONTACTED A NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE APPEARED BEFORE JUDGE GONZALEZ IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA AND THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY, JUDGE GONZALEZ WAS DESCRIBED AS HIGHLY QUALIFIED, EVEN-TEMPERED, AND OF UNQUESTIONED INTEGRITY. OUR I COMMEND PRESIDENT BUSH FOR NOMINATING JUDGE GONZALEZ. FEDERAL JUDICIARY IS WELL SERVED BY THE ADDITION OF INDIVIDUALS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS. WE IN ARIZONA ARE VERY PROUD OF JUDGE GONZALEZ. I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS NOMINEE AND URGE MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE TO CONFIRM JUDGE GONZALEZ EXPEDITIOUSLY. I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT FOR THE RECORD SEVERAL LETTERS FROM |