{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=5A634732-955A-4109-B995-7D8108128D08", "Majority Leader McConnell Introduces Kentuckians at Nomination Hearing", "2017-11-15", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Mitch McConnell", "M000355", "www.mcconnell.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today before members of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary in support of Kentuckians, Claria Horn Boom of Lexington, Rebecca Grady Jennings of Louisville, and Magistrate Judge Robert Wier of Versailles, President Trump\u2019s nominees to serve as federal district court judges in Kentucky:\r\n\r\n\u201cThank you for allowing me to join you today to introduce three Kentuckians, nominated by President Trump to serve as federal district court judges in Kentucky.\r\n\u201cI know that my colleague, Senator Paul, wishes he could be here today, but his recovery prevents him from it. However, I know that he is in strong support of each of these nominees I am about to introduce.\r\n\u201cI would like to commend President Trump on these three impressive nominations.   \u2003  \u201cEach of these talented individuals has stellar legal credentials and deep connections to the communities they have been asked to serve, and their service will be a great benefit to Kentucky and the nation.\r\nClaria Horn Boom of Lexington\r\n\u201cFirst, let me introduce Ms. Claria Horn Boom, of Lexington, to be the U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern and Western District of Kentucky.\r\n\u201cAfter graduating from Transylvania University and then from Vanderbilt Law School, Ms. Boom clerked for Judge Pierce Lively of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, where she learned the characteristics of a good judge: to be fair-minded, professional, and to respect the particular role of a judge as an arbiter, not as a legislator.\r\n\u201cAs an Assistant United States Attorney for first the Western District, and then the Eastern District of Kentucky, Ms. Boom prosecuted complex fraud and financial crimes for four years. On cases from money laundering to tax fraud, she was involved in all stages of a prosecution.\r\n\u201cAt her current firm \u2013 one of the largest in the region \u2013 Ms. Boom has set herself apart. The firm Chairman, the CEO, and partners from across the firm\u2019s footprint wrote to this Committee, stating that \u2018she has distinguished herself in every possible way \u2013 a sophisticated practitioner, a model in serving clients and their needs, a devoted mentor to young lawyers, a problem solver, and a firm leader.\u2019\r\n\u201cFurthermore, Judge Jennifer Coffman, the retired judge who once held this seat, wrote to this Committee that Ms. Boom, \u2018is eminently qualified for the position which I once held.\u2019 She went on to write, \u2018I cannot imagine a more worthy successor.\u2019\r\n\u201cWith experience as both a litigator and a transactional attorney, Ms. Boom will bring a breadth of experience to the federal bench. That outlook, plus her deep ties to the legal community in Kentucky, will serve her well as a judge for both the Eastern and Western Districts.\r\nRebecca Grady Jennings of Louisville\r\n\u201cPresident Trump made history with the nomination of Ms. Rebecca Grady Jennings, of Louisville, to serve as the first woman on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.\r\n\u201cAfter graduating from Emory University and then American University\u2019s Washington College of Law, Ms. Jennings clerked for Judge William Haynes of the Middle District of Tennessee. Since coming to Kentucky, she has built strong relationships in the legal community across the Commonwealth.\r\n\u201cAs the Director and Chair of her firm\u2019s litigation practice group, Ms. Jennings is eminently qualified to assume the role of a judge. She has experience in a wide-array of matters \u2013 from intellectual property litigation to employment litigation to class actions.\r\n\u201cIn fact, every single partner at her firm signed onto a letter not only supporting her nomination, but also highlighting her, \u2018excellent reputation for her legal abilities.\u2019\r\n\u201cA bipartisan group of attorneys and law professors from around Kentucky and the country also recommended Ms. Jennings\u2019 nomination to this Committee. They wrote that, \u2018although we do not necessarily share a common political or jurisprudential perspective \u2013 with Ms. Jennings or each other \u2013 we are unanimous in our unqualified enthusiasm for her nomination.\u2019\r\n\u201cI have more letters of support from her clients, other lawyers in the community, and the managing director of her firm. They all share a common theme \u2013 that Ms. Jennings will make a thoughtful and principled federal judge.\r\nMagistrate Judge Robert Wier of Versailles\r\n\u201cIt is my privilege to introduce Magistrate Judge Robert Wier, of Versailles, to be the U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky.\r\n\u201cJudge Wier attended the University of Kentucky for his undergraduate degree and UK\u2019s College of Law \u2013 where I also received my law degree \u2013 and he graduated first in his class. He then clerked for the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Eugene E. Siler, Jr.\r\n\u201cDuring his successful career in private practice, Judge Wier developed strong relationships with his community and became a well-respected member of the bar.\r\n\u201cSince 2006, Judge Wier has served his community as a magistrate judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky. During that time, he has earned the respect of his judicial colleagues and the legal community.\r\n\u201cA group of 87 attorneys from across Kentucky wrote a letter in support of his nomination, in which they wrote that \u2018Judge Wier has demonstrated that he possesses the attributes of an outstanding jurist: being prepared, diligent, fair-minded and intelligent.\u2019\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s no wonder why the judges of the Eastern District chose to unanimously reappoint him to a second term. Retired Judge Jennifer Coffman also wrote from her first-hand experience working with this nominee. \u2018Judge Wier quickly impressed everyone,\u2019 she wrote, \u2018with his strong intellect, thoroughness, humility, work ethic, kind and generous spirit, and fairness.\u2019\r\n\u201cNow, Judge Wier has the opportunity to continue serving his community as a U.S. District Court Judge, and I am grateful for his willingness to dedicate himself further to the people of Kentucky and this nation.\r\n\u201cEach of these nominees also enjoys the strong support of their families, who join us here today.\r\n\u201cMr. Chairman, thank you, once again, for permitting me to support these three strong nominees to serve on the federal bench in Kentucky. I am confident that through today\u2019s hearing, this Committee will find that each of them is prepared to serve this country and the Commonwealth.\r\n\u201cI appreciate the Committee\u2019s consideration today, and I look forward to the confirmation of each of these nominees.\u201d\r\n###", 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://www.mcconnell.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=5A634732-955A-4109-B995-7D8108128D08"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6143560167402029, "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"}