FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
May 22, 2017
Steve Marshall
For More Information, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL LEADS GEORGIA AND FLORIDA
ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN URGING SENATE TO CONFIRM ALABAMA
NATIVE TO U.S. ELEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Steve Marshall led his counterparts from
Georgia and Florida in voicing support for the nomination of Kevin Newsom, former
Solicitor General of Alabama, to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh
Circuit.
“We write in support of President Trump’s nomination of Kevin Christopher Newsom
to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit,” Alabama Attorney
General Marshall, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, and Florida Attorney General
Pamela Jo Bondi wrote in a joint letter to the leadership of the U.S. Senate Judiciary
Committee.
“As the chief law enforcement officers of the three states that comprise the Eleventh
Circuit, we supervise hundreds of attorneys who litigate before that court. The
Eleventh Circuit’s decisions impact – daily – our litigation, and uphold criminal
convictions and sentences. It is therefore of the utmost importance to us that the
Eleventh Circuit be comprised of capable hardworking judges who will resolve
disputes fairly and efficiently, based solely on the facts and law of each case. We are
confident that Mr. Newsom will be such a judge.”
Noting Mr. Newsom’s “impeccable academic credentials” and his experience as a
preeminent appellate practitioner in Alabama, the attorneys general observed, “He is
indisputably qualified for the honor of serving on the Eleventh Circuit.”
“We are especially pleased that Mr. Newsom previously served as the Solicitor General
of Alabama. In that role, he worked with Alabama’s Attorney General to represent the
State in appellate litigation in the Eleventh Circuit and United States Supreme Court,”
they added.
A copy of the letter is attached.
–30–
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
S T A T E OF ALA BA M A
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
501 WASHINGTON AVENUE
STEVEN T. MARSHALL
ATTORNEY GENERAL MONTGOMERY, AL 36130
(334) 242-7300
WWW.AGO.ALABAMA.GOV
May 19, 2017
Senator Chuck Grassley
Chairman
U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary
225 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Ranking Member
U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary
225 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 201510
Dear Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Feinstein,
We write in support of President Trump’s nomination of Kevin Christopher
Newsom to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. As the
chief law enforcement officers of the three States that comprise the Eleventh
Circuit, we supervise hundreds of attorneys who litigate before that court. The
Eleventh Circuit’s rulings are binding precedents in the federal district courts
within our States. And the Eleventh Circuit’s decisions impact – daily – our
ability to advance the legal interests of our States, defend state officers in civil
litigation, and uphold criminal convictions and sentences. It is, therefore, of the
utmost importance to us that the Eleventh Circuit be comprised of capable
hardworking judges who will resolve disputes fairly and e fficiently, based solely
on the facts and law of each case.
We are confident that Mr. Newsom will be such a judge. As a magna cum
laude graduate of Harvard Law School and a former law clerk to Justice David
Souter, Mr. Newsom has impeccable academic cred entials. He is also a
preeminent appellate practitioner who is regularly recognized by legal
publications as one of the best appellate lawyers in the State of Alabama. He is
indisputably qualified for the honor of serving on the Eleventh Circuit.
Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman
Senator Dianne Feinstein, Ranking Member
U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary
May 19, 2017
Page Two
We are especially pleased that Mr. Newsom previously served as the
Solicitor General of Alabama. In that role, he worked with Alabama’s Attorney
General to represent the State in appellate litigation in the Eleventh Circuit and
United States Supreme Court.
As the highest legal officers for our respective States, we appreciate Mr.
Newsom’s public service and the sacrifices it entailed. A State’s appellate
attorney does not make policy or pass judgment on the wisdom of a state law.
Instead, the role of a State’s lawyer is to zealously advocate for the interest of
his or her client – the State’s people and the institutions of state government. In
that role, Mr. Newsom was an able and effective advocate for the State of
Alabama, winning four “Best Brief Awards” from the National Association of
Attorneys General.
The Eleventh Circuit is currently in a state of “judicial emerge ncy” because
of its caseload and number of judges. For that reason, we urge you to prioritize
Mr. Newsom’s confirmation.
Sincerely,
Steven T. Marshall
Alabama Attorney General
Pamela Jo Bondi
Florida Attorney General
Chris Carr
Georgia Attorney General
cc: Senator Richard Shelby, Alabama
Senator Luther Strange, Alabama
Senator Johnny Isakson, Georgia
Senator David Perdue, Georgia
Senator Bill Nelson, Florida
Senator Marco Rubio, Florida
