Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) are strongly backing the nominations of two Texas judges for federal district courts, highlighting their bipartisan vetting process designed to identify candidates committed to judicial independence.
Angela Veronica Colmenero has been nominated to serve as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas, while Kasdin Miller Mitchell has been nominated for the Northern District of Texas. If confirmed, both would serve as trial-level federal judges responsible for overseeing cases involving federal law, including civil disputes, criminal prosecutions and constitutional questions.
Sen. Cruz reassured the committee of Senators that both nominees had undergone intense vetting processes by his and Cornyn’s bipartisan judicial advisory committee. Both Colmenero and Mitchell served as members of the advisory committee before their nominations, and Cruz said they were two of the “most respected” members of the Texas legal community.
“Both Ms. Colmenaro and Ms. Mitchell went through that process with flying colors,” Sen. Cruz said.
The process reflects what Sen. Cornyn said is crucial for any judge to be able to do: the ability to make decisions based solely on the law and facts, regardless of the criticism or backlash those decisions may provoke.
“We know that in this political climate, judges are frequently objects of criticism in this domain,” Sen. Cornyn said. “And that’s fine. We all enjoy the freedom of speech in this country. But the problem is judges can’t really defend themselves against criticism.”
Sen. Cornyn told the nominees that many of their decisions may bring controversy, but someone has to be willing to decide it anyway. This responsibility is not just for the sake of the law, but for the sake of the people, he said.
“There has to be a place where Americans can go and get a decision made by an independent member of the judiciary,” Sen. Cornyn said. “Irrespective of politics or popular opinion.”
Judge Mitchell said she learned this lesson during her clerkships under Judge William Pryor of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Alabama and later for Justice Clarence Thomas.
“One principle that stands out as I sit here today is that the old saying that what is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right,” she said.
Sen. Cruz also emphasized the importance of a judge maintaining independence and isolation from partisan decisions.
“Your ruling in a particular matter will be the final disposition for the parties before you,” Sen. Cruz said. “Whether in a criminal case, where you could well be responsible for someone’s life or death, or the entirety of their liberty or in a civil case for enormous consequences that can play out.”
Judge Colmenares said this level of responsibility has always reminded her to only enter the courtroom when she is fully prepared, something she learned under her clerkship for Judge Joe Fish in the Northern District of Texas.
“What he showed me is that it is important for the judge to be the most prepared person in the courtroom,” Judge Colmenares said. “More prepared than the lawyers and to know the law in all shapes and forms better than anybody.”
