Executive Session

Floor Speech

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Mrs. HAGAN. Mr. President, I wish to talk about Max Oliver Cogburn, Jr., judicial nominee for the U.S. district court in the Western District of North Carolina.

Judge Cogburn was nominated for the second time by President Obama on January 25, 2011, and was favorably reported out of the Judiciary Committee by voice vote on February 3, 2011.

It is extremely important to me that North Carolina has highly capable representation on our Federal courts. Judge Cogburn is exactly the type of legal mind we need as a judge on North Carolina's Western District Court.

Since coming to the Senate, I have worked to increase the number of North Carolinians on the Federal judiciary. Unfortunately, it has turned out to be a rather slow and arduous process. After months of making the case that North Carolina deserves more representation on the Fourth Circuit last year, Judges Jim Wynn and Al Diaz were confirmed unanimously by the Senate.

North Carolina is better off because Judges Jim Wynn and Al Diaz--highly qualified, experienced, and fairminded judges--are now serving on the Fourth Circuit. It is my hope that very soon North Carolina will have another Federal judge with the confirmation of Judge Cogburn. All of these judges have received bipartisan support, and I am pleased that Senator Burr has joined with me in recommending these judges.

I recommended Judge Cogburn because of his distinguished record as a jurist and attorney in both the public and private sectors. After earning degrees from Samford University Cumberland School of Law and UNC Chapel Hill, he entered private practice.

Judge Cogburn has worked in private practice off and on since 1976, handling criminal felonies and misdemeanors, civil torts, domestic cases, and corporate work. Judge Cogburn also served as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1980 to 1992 where he prosecuted murder cases, drug trafficking, voter fraud, and a wide variety of Federal crimes.

During his time with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Judge Cogburn served as the lead attorney of the Organized Crime and Drug Task Force, as well as the chief assistant U.S. attorney.

From 1995 to 2004, Judge Cogburn served as a magistrate judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. As a magistrate judge, he ruled on cases involving sexual harassment, racial discrimination in employment, fraud, age discrimination, products liability, and medical malpractice.

Judge Cogburn has received the American Bar Association's highest rating of "well-qualified." He has the skills and legal experience this position requires.

I am pleased to speak about Judge Cogburn's outstanding qualifications to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. I am confident that Judge Cogburn will serve on the bench with clarity and distinction. I have worked steadily to see that he is confirmed quickly. I look forward to casting that vote shortly. I ask my Senate colleagues to join me and Senator Burr in support of Judge Cogburn's nomination and vote in favor of his confirmation.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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