Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to advance Associate Oregon Supreme Court Justice Adrienne Nelson’s nomination to the U.S. District Court.
Wyden delivered remarks to introduce Justice Nelson during the Judiciary Committee’s hearing considering her nomination.
“I’ve been a part of the selection process for a lot of judicial nominees. In that process, you look for candidates whose deep understanding of the law is matched by a commitment to service and impartiality. Having known Justice Nelson for several years, I can tell you that nobody fits that bill better than she does,” Wyden said. “The work ethic, the integrity, and the legal acumen Justice Nelson has displayed throughout her career are among the many reasons why leaders from all over Oregon have voiced support for her nomination. . . . Those letters of support describe Justice Nelson as a hard-working individual, a person of humility, and a jurist committed to fairness and justice for all. Bottom line, there’s no questioning Justice Nelson’s top-notch qualifications for the District Court. Adrienne Nelson will make an excellent federal judge. I urge all members of this committee to support her nomination.”
“Justice Nelson has already left her mark on history as the first Black American to sit on our state’s highest court, or any of Oregon’s appellate courts. And, if confirmed for this seat, Justice Nelson will once again make history as the first Black woman to sit on Oregon’s District Court,” said Merkley. “But beyond her historic nomination, Justice Nelson will bring with her a wide breadth of judicial and legal experience, not only as a judge but also from her years serving as a public defender and in private practice. I fully support Justice Adrienne Nelson’s nomination for this federal judgeship, and I urge each of my Senate colleagues to support this groundbreaking nomination.”
The next step is for the Judiciary Committee to vote on Justice Nelson’s nomination. A date for this vote has not yet been announced.
A web version of this release is here.
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