February 14, 2023

Wyden Urges Confirmation of Adrienne Nelson to U.S. District Court on the Floor of U.S. Senate

Remarks as prepared for delivery

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden delivered the following remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate in support of the confirmation of Oregon Supreme Court Associate Justice Adrienne Nelson to the U.S. District Court. The final confirmation vote is expected to take place on Wednesday morning, Eastern Time.

M. President, I want to use my time to offer my unwavering support on the confirmation of Associate Justice Adrienne Nelson to the U.S. District Court.

Through a powerful combination of legal acumen and a commitment to justice for all, Justice Adrienne Nelson has amassed an impressive record, earning her a well-deserved seat on the Oregon Supreme Court—the first Black woman ever to serve. 

But before she was the first Black woman Oregon Supreme Court Justice, before law school and before her impressive legal career which includes her twelve years of experience on the Multnomah County Circuit Court, in private practice, and as a public defender…even before she could vote, Justice Nelson was #1 in her class at an Arkansas high school that wouldn’t recognize her as valedictorian because of the color of her skin. The lawsuit that followed in her name ensured that no student could be denied any accomplishment based on their race—and that victory activated a life-long legal mind and civil rights champion.

Around my state, Justice Nelson is lauded for her prodigious work ethic, integrity, and humility. Support for her nomination comes from her fellow Justices of the Oregon Supreme Court, nonprofit and business leaders, as well as law enforcement officials from urban and rural communities. This includes District Attorneys, the Sheriff of our most populous county and a former U.S. Attorney who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations. 

There is so much to like, Senator Warnock, about Judge Nelson, but what I like most is that she’s a role model for young people. Young people in my state really look up to Judge Nelson, in fact, there is an Adrienne C. Nelson High School in Happy Valley, Oregon. Everybody reports that the students there just love her.

In addition to these impressive accomplishments and adulations, it’s clear that Justice Nelson has not lost sight of the valedictorian fighting tooth and nail within the American legal system to make ours a better and even stronger country — for everybody. I know that she will bring this dedication and commitment to justice for all to every case that crosses her desk.

There’s no question that with Justice Nelson’s top-notch qualifications, she will make a superb federal judge. So it is for all these reasons that I urge my colleagues to confirm this supremely qualified candidate to the U.S. District Court. We are all, in Oregon, so proud of Judge Adrienne Nelson and I believe all Americans will be when she is in service on the court. I yield the floor.

A video of Senator Wyden’s remarks is here.

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