Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to join with Senator Mikulski in recommending to the Senate the confirmation of Judge Paul William Grimm of Maryland to be a U.S. district judge for the District of Maryland.
I am very proud of the process Senator Mikulski has instituted for making recommendations to the President to fill judicial appointments. I believe that under this process, we are able to get the very best to recommend to the President and then to our colleagues for confirmation. Judge Grimm clearly falls within this line.
The Senate Judiciary Committee favorably reported Judge Grimm’s nomination by a voice vote on June 7 of this year. Judge Grimm was nominated to fill the vacancy that was created in Maryland when U.S. District Judge Benson E. Legg took senior status in June.
Judge Grimm brings a wealth of experience to this position. Early in his career he served in the military in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, handled commercial litigation in private practice, and served as an assistant attorney general in Maryland. He also sat as a Federal magistrate judge in Maryland for 15 years.
Judge Grimm was born in Japan and received his undergraduate degree from the University of California in 1973, and graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1976. Judge Grimm was admitted to the Maryland bar in 1977.
He has strong roots, legal experience, and community involvement in the State of Maryland. Judge Grimm lives with his family in Towson, Maryland.
After graduating law school, Judge Grimm began his legal career in Maryland as a captain in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. He then worked in the Pentagon before heading back to the Baltimore region, alternating between working in private practice and working in the State attorney general’s office, while continuing to serve as a U.S. Army JAG Corps officer with occasional stints in the Pentagon.
In 1997 Judge Grimm was selected as a magistrate judge by the judges of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. In 2006, Judge Grimm became the chief U.S. magistrate judge in Baltimore.
In 2009, Chief Justice John Roberts appointed Judge Grimm to serve as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. In 2010 he was designated as chair of the Civil Rules Committee’s Discovery Subcommittee.
I mention that because it is evident from the Chief Judge’s appointment that Judge Grimm is a nationally recognized expert on cutting-edge issues of law and technology. He has written numerous authoritative opinions, books, and articles on the subject of evidence, civil procedure, and trial advocacy. He also continues to inspire the next generation of lawyers by teaching classes at both of our law schools. On several occasions Professor Grimm has been awarded the title of outstanding adjunct faculty member. As a magistrate judge, Judge Grimm has found time not only to teach but to be an outstanding professor. He has shown his commitment in so many ways to public service.
As a magistrate judge, Judge Grimm is responsible for handling criminal matters such as issuing search warrants, conducting preliminary criminal proceedings, and presiding over misdemeanor criminal cases.
Judge Grimm is also responsible for handling civil cases and has presided over bench and jury trials with the consent of the parties. Judge Grimm has conducted settlement conferences, resolved discovery disputes, and handled other nondispositive matters at the referral of the U.S. district judges.
Judge Grimm has estimated that in his 15 years as a magistrate judge he presided over approximately 50 civil trials, 150 criminal misdemeanor trials, including jury and bench trials. He is well qualified and has the experience necessary to serve on our district court. He received a unanimous rating of well qualified, the highest possible rating for a judicial nominee from the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary. As I previously mentioned, he received a voice vote of confidence from the Judiciary Committee.
I am absolutely confident that Judge Grimm possesses the qualifications, temperament, and passion for justice to make him an outstanding United States District Court judge for the District of Maryland.
I urge my colleagues to vote for his confirmation here on the Senate floor.
