Portman, Brown Applaud Nomination of Judge Matt McFarland to Serve on U.S. Federal District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

Press Release

U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded President Trump for nominating Judge Matt McFarland to the position of U.S. Federal District Court Judge for the Southern District of Ohio. Portman and Brown recommended the president nominate Judge McFarland for the vacancy which was created upon the retirement of Judge Thomas Rose. The nomination will now be vetted by the Senate Judiciary Committee before being considered for confirmation by the full U.S. Senate. The Southern District has court locations in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton and serves more than five million Ohioans in 48 counties.

"I am pleased the president has nominated Judge Matt McFarland to be the next federal judge in the Southern District," said Portman. "Judge McFarland has been a dedicated public servant on the state court of appeals. His esteemed reputation is well deserved and I am confident he will continue to distinguished service on the bench."

"I'm proud to join Senator Portman in this bipartisan process, and I thank Judge McFarland for his willingness to serve," said Brown.

"I'm very honored to be nominated by the President for this important position and grateful to have the bipartisan support of Senators Portman and Brown. Serving as a judge has been the greatest professional honor of my life and I look forward to serving the citizens of Ohio at the federal level, if confirmed," said Judge McFarland.

Judge Matt McFarland: Matthew McFarland is a judge on the Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals. He was elected to the court in 2004 and re-elected in 2010 and 2016. Judge McFarland received his undergraduate degree from Capital University and his J.D. from Capital University Law School. Judge McFarland has served as a visiting judge on the Supreme Court of Ohio and on the 10th District Court of Appeals. He previously served as the Magistrate in Scioto County Common Pleas Court Probate/Juvenile Division, and as Chairman of the Ohio Association of Magistrates, Juvenile Section. Prior to serving on the bench, Judge McFarland was a Scioto County Assistant Prosecutor and acted as Special Counsel for the Ohio Attorney General. He also was a Licking County Assistant County Prosecutor and had his own private practice.

NOTE: The President of the United States nominates U.S. district court judges based on recommendations from U.S. senators. Those recommendations are then vetted by the White House and the Senate Judiciary Committee before being considered for confirmation by the full U.S. Senate. U.S. district courts are general trial courts that hear both civil and criminal cases.

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