{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://paulsen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&itemid=1987", "Paulsen, Colleagues Push Minnesotan for Supreme Court Vacancy", "2018-06-28", "2018", "2018-06", "Republican", "House", "MN", "Erik Paulsen", "P000594", "paulsen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03)today urged the President to nominate Judge David Stras of the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to fill the vacancy on the United States Supreme Court that will be open following Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement. Stras, a former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice, was confirmed to the federal appellate court in January. Paulsen was joined by Reps. Tom Emmer (MN-06) and Jason Lewis (MN-02) in writing the President to recommend Stras' nomination.\r\n\r\n\tJudge Stras was included in a list of 25 potential Supreme Court nominees published by the White House last year.\r\n\r\n\tWe write to offer our highest recommendation for the nomination of Judge David Stras, currently serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, to fill the vacancy created by Justice Anthony Kennedy's recent retirement from the Supreme Court of the United States,the lawmakers wrote.Judge Stras has all the best qualities of a judge. As a true originalist and textualist, Justice Stras has continually displayed his commitment to interpret the law, rather than make it. Judge Stras' decisions are notable for their rigorous analysis of statutory and constitutional texts which apply the text as it was understood at the time of its adoption.\r\n\r\n\tAs you know, Judge Stras' nomination is widely and enthusiastically supported in Minnesota. His supporters come from across the political spectrum, and include former colleagues at the University of Minnesota Law School and Minnesota Supreme Court. He is highly respected across the state, largely because his track record is truly beyond reproach,the lawmakers said.\r\n\r\n\tPaulsen first discussed his support for Judge Stras' nomination during an appearance on WCCO Radio Wednesday.\r\n\r\n\tThe full text of the letter is below.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tJune 28, 2018\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tPresident Donald J. Trump\r\n\r\n\tThe White House\r\n\r\n\t1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\r\n\r\n\tWashington, DC 20500\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tDear Mr. President:\r\n\r\n\tWe write to offer our highest recommendation for the nomination of Judge David Stras, currently serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, to fill the vacancy created by Justice Anthony Kennedy's recent retirement from the Supreme Court of the United States.\r\n\r\n\tDuring the last two years, we each had the privilege of meeting Judge Stras personally and examining his record. Judge Stras has all the best qualities of a judge. As a true originalist and textualist, Justice Stras has continually displayed his commitment to interpret the law, rather than make it. Judge Stras' decisions are notable for their rigorous analysis of statutory and constitutional texts which apply the text as it was understood at the time of its adoption. Like the opinions of Justice Scalia, Judge Stras' decisions  both on the Eighth Circuit and the Minnesota Supreme Court  use dictionaries and plain-meaning analysis to rigorously analyze legal text and precedent.\r\n\r\n\tJudge Stras' views on the role of the judiciary arise from a true appreciation of constitutional separation of powers. Time and again, Judge Stras' opinions apply the text of the Constitution and statutes as written over the personal preferences of other judges, dressed up as the intent of the statute or a constitutional provision.\r\n\r\n\tFinally, as you know, Judge Stras' nomination is widely and enthusiastically supported in Minnesota. His supporters come from across the political spectrum, and include former colleagues at the University of Minnesota Law School and Minnesota Supreme Court. He is highly respected across the state, largely because his track record is truly beyond reproach.\r\n\r\n\tThank you for your consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of service as you consider this historic vacancy.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tSincerely,\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tErik Paulsen Tom Emmer Jason Lewis\r\n\r\n\tMember of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://paulsen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&itemid=1987"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7809558883309364, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}