Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video of Senator Collins’ remarks
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks on the Senate floor in support of the nomination of Joshua Dunlap of Scarborough for the Maine seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Mr. Dunlap has received a unanimous “Well Qualified” rating from the American Bar Association (ABA)—the highest possible rating for a judicial nominee. He is a partner at the law firm Pierce Atwood LLP in Portland and graduated first in his class from Notre Dame Law School.
Her remarks were as follows:
“Mr. President, I rise today in strong support of Joshua Dunlap to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Josh is an attorney of extraordinary intelligence, extensive experience, and demonstrated integrity. He is highly respected in the legal community throughout the state of Maine, and I urge my colleagues to support his nomination to the First Circuit.
“Josh grew up in Vassalboro, Maine, and now lives in Scarborough with his wife Sydney and their three children. He graduated first in his class from Notre Dame Law School, where he received the law school’s highest honor awarded to the student with the most distinguished academic record. He then clerked for Judge Paul Kelly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. In 2009, Josh joined the very well-respected law firm Pierce Atwood in Portland, Maine. During his 16 years at the firm, he has specialized in complex civil litigation matters and currently serves as co-chair of the firm’s Appellate Team. Josh is admitted to practice in multiple U.S. courts of appeal and the United States Supreme Court. He has also assisted Special Masters in three original jurisdiction proceedings before the Supreme Court. Finally, Josh also chairs the Maine Appellate Rules Committee, to which he was appointed by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.
“This impressive experience, coupled with his intelligence and integrity, makes Josh exceptionally well-qualified to serve on the First Circuit. His substantial appellate litigation experience will also bring a practitioner’s perspective to the Court. The nonpartisan American Bar Association unanimously rated Josh as 'Well Qualified' to serve on the First Circuit. I would note that that is the highest possible rating for a judicial nominee—it reflects the ABA’s assessment of his integrity, experience, and temperament.
“There were several compelling letters of support submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee in favor of Josh’s nomination, and I would like to highlight a couple of them. A diverse group of faculty and alumni from his law school, who taught Josh or studied alongside him, praised him for his 'respect for differing views' and 'deep appreciation for the rule of law.' A letter signed by a group of leading Maine attorneys, who describe themselves as representing a broad spectrum of political views and legal philosophies, wrote that Josh has all the qualities the very finest judges exhibit: 'he is hard working, courteous and judicial in temperament, very smart, and of sterling character with a commitment to fairness and the rule of law.'
“Mr. President, at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Josh testified that 'Mainers are famously independent' and that '[he] suspects that characterizes [him] as well.' That’s exactly what we want in a judge. Maine is proud of our history of supplying superb, well qualified, independent-minded jurists to the federal bench. I know that Josh will continue in that fine tradition.
“I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of his nomination, for he truly deserves bipartisan support.”
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