Executive Session

Floor Speech

EXECUTIVE SESSION -- (Senate - September 10, 2007)

Mr. BURR. Mr. President, it gives me great pleasure to stand before my colleagues today to urge them to confirm two great lawyers in North Carolina to be U.S. district court judges. I wish to take a moment to commend my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee for unanimously reporting out Bill Osteen, Jr., and Martin Reidinger before we adjourned for the August recess. I thank Judiciary Chairman Leahy and Ranking Member Specter for their dedication to ensuring that judicial nominees get hearings and votes on the Senate floor. I am grateful for the care and passion with which the Judiciary Committee members approach their responsibility of examining nominees for Federal judgeships.

I have often said that there is no area of our daily lives that is not somehow affected by judicial decisions. The decisions made by judges today will have a lasting effect long after we are gone from this institution. It is critical that these Federal judges serve to administer justice according to the strict interpretation of law and the Constitution. We have before us today the opportunity to confirm two individuals who are committed to doing just that.

As I mentioned in my remarks before the Judiciary Committee when he had his hearing, this is not the first time that somebody by the name of Bill Osteen has been before the Senate for consideration. Fifteen years ago, Bill Osteen's father was confirmed to be a U.S. district court judge. Bill Osteen, Jr., was nominated by the President to be a Federal judge because he is qualified to serve on the bench, and I am confident he will continue to work towards a strong judicial system in North Carolina.

Born and raised in Greensboro, he attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill for both undergraduate and graduate law school. He has a diverse legal background and has litigated many cases spanning all areas of the legal profession. Trying both civil and criminal matters, Bill spent much of his time in the Federal courtroom. After today, I hope he continues to spend his time in the Federal courtroom but now for a different reason in a different seat.

While I am impressed by the professional qualifications he will bring to the bench if confirmed, perhaps most importantly, Bill is a good man. Bill is a family man. He is a good dad to his two children Ann-Bennet and Bill. He is a good husband to his wife Elizabeth. I urge my colleagues to support Bill's nomination and to confirm him to serve on North Carolina's Federal bench.

Martin Reidinger of Asheville, NC, is also before the Senate today to be confirmed as a U.S. district court judge.

Like Bill, Martin graduated from the University of North Carolina for both his undergraduate and law degrees, graduating with honors from the law school.

Martin's well-established Federal practice in western North Carolina has existed for a number of years. Throughout his career, he has handled all types of cases, represented a wide range of clients, and has appeared in all levels of State and Federal court.

I had the pleasure of meeting Martin's family as well: his wife Patti, and his four children: Heather, Sara, Alex, and Max.

Martin's family and friends are proud of him for all of his accomplishments, and Martin has continuously expressed how honored he is to be considered for the Federal bench. These two nominees have tremendous legal experience, an unwavering commitment to their families, and are men with good moral character.

On too many occasions, we have let judicial nominations escalate into contentious debates where people's good reputations are tarnished as a result of partisan politics. We have seen it throughout history, and no one party is to blame. Unfortunately, both sides share blame. But it is great to see how this body can come together to work to make a difference in the lives of Americans.

As policymakers, our debates certainly affect every American. We hear from thousands of our constituents every week, and when we make decisions, we think about how to best balance the competing policy positions so we are able to make good laws.

But every day, judges see how these laws we are responsible for making, apply in real life. They do not have the benefit of changing the law based on who appears before them. We owe it to our constituents to put fair-minded and qualified judges on the bench whom we are confident will apply the laws this body passes in an impartial manner.

By confirming Bill Osteen, Jr., and Martin Reidinger to the Federal bench in North Carolina, I believe we are fulfilling that obligation.

I urge my colleagues to support both of their nominations.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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