Executive Session

Floor Speech

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Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I strongly support the nomination of Magistrate Judge Jennifer Guerin Zipps to the Federal district court.

At the outset, I would like to point out that Judge Zipps has been nominated to fill the seat once occupied by Chief Judge John Roll, who was, of course, murdered earlier this year during the same attack that left Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords gravely wounded. On every level, this was a tragic loss for Arizona and the judiciary. John Roll was known for his fairness to those who appeared before him, plaintiffs and defendants alike. As chief judge, he was a tireless advocate for all Arizonans, working to ensure that the federal courts in our state were able to handle growing caseloads while simultaneously seeking swift and fair justice for all.

The day we lost Chief Judge Roll, we lost an outstanding jurist, a dedicated public servant, and a great Arizonan. Judge Zipps has big shoes to fill, but I am confident she is up to the challenge, and that she will serve with honor and distinction.

I would like to say a few words about the background of Judge Zipps. Her qualifications are quite strong. Judge Zipps graduated from the University of Arizona and from Georgetown University Law Center. After law school, she clerked on the Ninth Circuit for Judge Canby and then worked for 4 years at the law firm of Molloy, Jones & Donahue. She spent the next decade as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona. She rose to be chief of the Civil Division and for the last three years was the Chief Assistant in the office. She earned numerous awards, including one for leadership and one for her performance as the civil chief. It is easy to see why Judge Zipps was awarded the ABA's highest rating: Unanimous ``Well Qualified.''

Judge Zipps has served as a magistrate on the Federal district court in Arizona since 2005. She has a distinguished record that has earned the respect of the legal community in Arizona. With her judicial experience, Judge Zipps will be able to hit the ground running and help tackle one of the heaviest caseloads in the Federal judiciary.

Perhaps most telling is the high regard in which Judge Zipps is held by her colleagues on the district court. They come from different backgrounds and were appointed by Presidents of both parties, but they all speak highly of her.

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