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Floor Speech

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Mr. REED. Thank you very much, Senator Whitehouse.

Mr. President, I rise today in strong support of Melissa R. DuBose to be a judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.

Let me thank my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee for advancing her nomination on a bipartisan vote last week. I would like to particularly thank Senator Whitehouse for his leadership, not just here, but so many times on the Judiciary Committee and in the Senate.

Like Senator Whitehouse, I look forward, in a few minutes, to her confirmation as a district judge. Judge DuBose served with distinction at the State level as an associate judge in the Rhode Island district court. She has proven to be an exceptional jurist with a sterling track record. As a judge, she is known for ensuring proceedings in her courtroom are fair and efficient. She is someone who not only knows the law but understands that her task as a judge is to seek justice.

She will fill the seat being vacated by Judge William E. Smith, who will be taking senior status. Judge Smith is a model of professionalism and integrity. He, along with Rhode Island's other current sitting judges on the Federal district court, as Senator Whitehouse noted, are enthusiastic about the nomination of Judge DuBose.

Indeed, they wrote:

Melissa is an outstanding choice to join the federal bench--she is supremely qualified, her ethics are impeccable, and her temperament is judicious.

That is high praise indeed from a diverse and exceptional group of judges. I share their confidence in Judge DuBose.

She will continue Rhode Island's long and proud tradition of outstanding district court judges, and she will make history in her own right, becoming the first woman of color and the first openly LGBTQ person to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.

Judge DuBose was born and raised in Providence, not far from where the U.S. district court is located. She earned both her undergraduate degree and teaching certificate from Providence College. Providence College is a remarkable school. The Dominicans run a tight ship, and they ensure that their students are particularly well prepared.

She worked for 11 years, as Senator Whitehouse said, as a schoolteacher in the Providence Public School system, shaping and inspiring young minds. I can't think of better preparation for presiding over a court than running a classroom in a city like Providence or any other big city. So she has skills that are necessary for being a judge, both temperamentally and intellectually.

Her desire to make her community safer, to give back, to give the young people whom she taught a better chance, inspired her to study law. So, while teaching full time, she attended Roger Williams University School of Law at night and got her J.D. Upon graduation, she worked for the State of Rhode Island, in the attorney general's office. She started in the juvenile division and rose through the ranks and took on new assignments, including criminal arraignments and violation hearings.

After serving in the public sector for several years, she worked as a corporate counsel for Schneider Electric, a Fortune Global 500 company, covering compliance, ethics, and trade.

This is a remarkable woman who taught in a city school, who served in the State attorney general's office, and then went to an international company to deal with issues that are much different than you find in a district court or a school. So her capacity, her breadth of knowledge and experience, and her whole life prepared her so well for this judgeship.

In 2019, then-Governor Gina Raimondo, now our Commerce Secretary, elevated her to the Rhode Island district court. And she demonstrated fairness and impartiality and a sense of fairness in court.

Having served as an attorney and a judge, in the attorney general's office and in the private sector, she has handled both criminal and civil cases in Rhode Island's courts and trade cases that span continents. She is more than ready for elevation to the Federal bench.

Now, her resume is impressive, and she has received support all across the board, from judges in Rhode Island, from public defenders, from prosecutors, and from State and local law enforcement officials. Like her peers, I am confident that Judge DuBose will serve on the district court with integrity and distinction. She has dedicated her life to public service, and Rhode Island is fortunate that she has once again answered the call to serve.

I urge my colleagues to confirm this exceptionally qualified nominee to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.

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