May 23, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 87 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page S3093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              NOMINATIONS

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, once again, our Republican colleagues are 
spending another week rubberstamping President Trump's extreme 
nominees.
  Daniel Collins, nominated to a California Ninth Circuit seat, 
received a vote over the objection of both of California's Senators.
  Before this year, a judicial nominee had never been confirmed over 
the objection of both home State Senators. Mr. Collins's confirmation 
marked the sixth time it has happened this year.
  This Republican Senate has effectively killed the blue slip for 
circuit court nominations. This is a precedent that could come back to 
haunt each of our States. My Republican colleagues who are voting 
repeatedly to override home State Senators' objections may come to 
regret those votes someday.
  I opposed the Collins nomination. I agree with Senators Feinstein and 
Harris that Collins has ``a history of taking strong litigation 
positions for no reason other than attempting to overturn precedent and 
push legal boundaries.''
  I am particularly troubled by his extensive representation of the 
tobacco industry and his inadequate recusal commitment when it comes to 
matters involving his former tobacco industry clients.
  The district court nominees scheduled for votes this week also have a 
long history of advancing extreme ideological views.
  When it comes to abortion, North Carolina district court nominee 
Kenneth Bell once wrote in an op-ed, ``There is no middle ground.'' 
Missouri district court nominee Stephen Clark has spent much of his 
legal career litigating against reproductive rights and access to 
contraceptives.
  Utah district court nominee Howard Nielson wrote a memo for the 
Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, arguing that the Geneva 
Conventions, which prohibit torture, do not apply to civilians captured 
abroad.
  DC district nominee Carl Nichols has advanced extreme views of 
Executive power, including arguing that Presidents and Presidential 
aides have absolute immunity from congressional process.
  I opposed these extreme nominees, and I regret that the Senate's 
advice and consent process has become an exercise in Republican 
rubberstamping. This institution can and should do better.

                          ____________________