Senator Carper Statement on Senate Confirmation of Becker, Berk and Wingo to Serve on the D.C. Superior Court

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released a statement following the Senate’s confirmation by voice vote of the nominations of Julie Becker, Steven Berk and Elizabeth Wingo to be Associate Judges on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

“I’m pleased that the Senate has confirmed Julie Becker, Steven Berk and Elizabeth Wingo to serve as Associate Judges on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia – the District’s local trial court. I am confident that all three will make terrific additions to the court. The residents of D.C. are fortunate that men and women as impressive as these nominees are willing to go through a protracted nominating process, a great deal of scrutiny and a full measure of uncertainty, all for the possibility that they might one day serve on the bench in the District of Columbia.

“Many people don’t realize that no other jurisdiction in our country must have its local judges approved by Congress. And no other state is denied the representation here in the Senate that might help it pursue its priorities here, including nominations. We do a disservice to the residents of our nation’s capital when we delay the confirmation of qualified nominees. I thank my colleagues in the Senate for finally approving these nominations and urge this body to work in a timely manner to confirm other nominees to the local D.C. courts going forward.”