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Floor Speech

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Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, I rise today to proudly vote for the confirmation of Jamel Semper to the U.S. District Court of New Jersey.

Mr. Semper, whom I personally recommended to President Biden, is exceptionally well-qualified for this position, and you don't have to take my word for it. Mr. Semper received strong, bipartisan support on the Judiciary Committee. So there is no reason he shouldn't enjoy that same bipartisan support here on the Senate floor.

For more than 15 years, Mr. Semper has tirelessly sought justice for the residents who call New Jersey home. Indeed, it is the central theme that runs throughout Mr. Semper's career--an unwavering commitment to the rule of law and to the communities the law is meant to protect.

He began his career as an assistant prosecutor in Union County, handling a wide range of cases across the appellate, juvenile, and adult trial units. Then, in Essex County, he went after carjackers and murderers, including the first prosecution of a homicide under New Jersey's domestic terrorism statute.

In 2018, he was sworn in as an assistant U.S. attorney in Newark, climbing the ladder and ultimately serving as chief of both the violent crime and organized crime units. Today, he is the deputy chief of the criminal division, a role in which he is responsible for supervising all phases of criminal investigation and prosecution.

In each of these positions, Mr. Semper has demonstrated unflinching fidelity to the rule of law. Time and time again, Mr. Semper has kept New Jerseyans safe, while also building bridges between residents and those who have sworn an oath to protect them.

This community-focused approach to law enforcement has earned Mr. Semper plaudits from individuals and organizations representing diverse interests, especially those who advocate for communities of color in the Garden State.

Consider the words of Rev. Ron Slaughter, the pastor of St. James AME in Newark. He said:

``Semper has touched all the bases, stayed connected to the community, and remained patient. This is a great day for New Jersey, America, our judiciary, and my community.''

Truer words haven't been spoken.

Mr. Semper's confirmation today not only furthers our collective goal of addressing judicial vacancies across our country; it also advances our efforts to diversify the Federal bench. It brings us one step closer toward ensuring that our most hallowed institutions reflect the rich tapestry of America.

For nearly 18 years, I have always taken my constitutional duty to provide advice and consent on judicial nominees seriously. It is one of the most solemn obligations as U.S. Senators that we have, and it is one of the most consequential impacts we have on our democracy as Senators--confirming judges who interpret and shape the law and our Constitution for decades to come.

So I am a firm believer that our independent judiciary must reflect the very best of America's values and its citizens, which is why I can honestly say that Jamel Semper's relentless commitment to public service, combined with his temperament and the trust he has built with New Jerseyans--all this is exactly what we look for in a Federal judge.

He will, no doubt, be an asset to New Jersey's Federal bench, and I encourage all my colleagues to support Jamel Semper to be in his rightful place on the District Court of New Jersey.

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