{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=D83F0BEE-4A8F-4692-8A06-850F45641B7C", "James Ho Will Excel on the Fifth Circuit", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Mitch McConnell", "M000355", "www.mcconnell.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding President Trump\u2019s nominee for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, James Ho:\r\n\u201cThis week, the Senate is continuing to consider President Trump\u2019s outstanding judicial nominees. Yesterday, we confirmed a talented individual to be a circuit court judge. And soon, we\u2019ll confirm another.\r\n\u201cNext, we will advance the nomination of James Ho to be a judge on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Ho is another well-qualified individual, and like all of President Trump\u2019s judicial nominees, he is dedicated to upholding the rule of law and serving as an impartial arbiter on the bench.\r\n\u201cSimilar to Justice Willett, who I discussed yesterday, Mr. Ho has an inspirational story.   Immigrating to the United States from Taiwan at the age of one, he learned English by watching Sesame Street. He went on to graduate from the University of Chicago Law School with high honors, and earned a clerkship with Judge Jerry E. Smith of the Fifth Circuit.\r\n\u201cIn 2001, Mr. Ho joined the Department of Justice as the Special Assistant to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and later worked in the Office of Legal Counsel. In addition to his service in the executive branch, he worked here in the Senate as Chief Counsel for the Judiciary Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on the Constitution.\r\n\u201cAfterward, he went across the street to clerk for Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. After his distinguished and successful legal career in Washington, Mr. Ho returned to Texas, joining a top law firm and specializing in appellate litigation. He then served as the Solicitor General of Texas, succeeding our colleague, Senator Cruz. It was while he was serving in that role that he won the Supreme Court Best Brief award from the National Association of Attorneys General. He went on to earn the award two more times.\r\n\u201cAfter his time in state government, Mr. Ho returned to his private practice firm and currently serves as the co-chair of its appellate and constitutional law group. He has presented oral arguments in state and federal courts around the country, including the Supreme Court. It\u2019s clear that Mr. Ho possesses impressive credentials with the experience necessary to excel on the Fifth Circuit.\r\n\u201cHe has also earned the praise of prominent Democrats who believe that he will make an excellent addition to the federal court. Ron Kirk, the Obama Administration\u2019s U.S. Trade Representative and the former Mayor of Dallas, supported Mr. Ho\u2019s nomination to the Judiciary Committee. He wrote, \u2018Jim possesses the temperament, integrity, and intellect that anyone, Republican or Democrat, should insist on in a federal judge.\u2019\r\n\u201c\u2018He\u2019s wickedly smart,\u2019 Mr. Kirk continued, \u2018and is among the most brilliant appellate lawyers in the United States.\u2019\r\n\u201c\u2018If there is one thing that my liberal and conservative colleagues agree on, it is that Jim just has it in his DNA to be a great judge.\u2019\r\n\u201cA Commissioner on the United States Commission on Civil Rights appointed by President Obama also recommended Mr. Ho in a letter to the Judiciary Committee. She knows him from his volunteer work with the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. She wrote that he, \u2018has a strong reputation as an intelligent, reasonable, fair and principled attorney.\u2019\r\n\u201cI would like to commend President Trump for another strong nomination. I would also like to express my gratitude to Chairman Grassley and the members of the Judiciary Committee for their work to process the president\u2019s judicial nominees. I look forward to advancing Mr. Ho\u2019s nomination soon.\u201d", 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=D83F0BEE-4A8F-4692-8A06-850F45641B7C"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3371920213103294, "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"}