Grassley Opens Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing on ATF Director and Four District Judges

Prepared Opening Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
Nominations
Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Good morning. I'd like to welcome everyone to today's hearing.

Our panel features Robert Cekada, nominated to be Director of the ATF, and four district court nominees: Andrew Davis to the Western District of Texas; Judge John Shepherd to the Western District of Arkansas; Anna St. John to the Eastern District of Louisiana; and Judge Christopher Wolfe to the Western District of Texas.

We have several visiting introducers here today, and we'll turn to them in just a moment.

We've seen a lot of judicial activism around the country in recent months.

I've repeatedly spoken about the need for judges to remain in their constitutional lane. They must interpret and uphold the law in a neutral and impartial manner.

They serve the rule of law, not a political ideology or personal position.

And that's why I'm so pleased with today's four judicial nominees. Their diverse careers demonstrate a commitment to our Constitution and the rule of law.

Mr. Davis has had an impressive career across all branches of the government.

He clerked for judges on the Northern District of Texas and the Second Circuit. He served as an Assistant Solicitor General in the Texas Attorney General's Office. And he's even worked in the legislature - supporting this Committee - as Senator Cruz's Chief Counsel.

This range of experience will benefit him on the bench.

Judge Shepherd has had a unique career, which also prepares him well to serve as a federal judge.

He's litigated both civil and criminal cases. He's seen all sides of criminal disputes.

Judge Shepherd did criminal defense work as a court-appointed advocate, but also served as a prosecutor, handling violent felonies and drug crimes.

For the past year - he's served as a state judge in Arkansas, continuing his career of service with distinction.

Likewise, Ms. St. John has impeccable credentials.

She graduated from Columbia law school and clerked for Judge Barksdale on the Fifth Circuit.

Her litigation practice has covered some of the most difficult areas of the law. She's litigated class actions, administrative claims and constitutional questions.

Ms. St. John also fought to protect the First Amendment rights of free speech and religious liberty, and she's done great work advocating to protect women's sports.

Judge Wolfe spent nearly two decades in public service as a local and federal prosecutor.

He handled the most important work facing the U.S. Attorney's Offices in the Northern District of Texas and the District of Minnesota.

Judge Wolfe tirelessly worked to protect Americans against the scourge of drug trafficking and white-collar fraud.

He's also served as a state judge for the better part of a decade, gaining experience that will serve him well on the federal bench.

Our panel also features a well-qualified nominee to serve as the Director of the ATF.

Mr. Cekada has had an extensive career protecting Americans at the state and federal level.

He served more than a decade as a police officer, receiving numerous awards and commendations for his service.

Mr. Cekada has also spent two decades with the ATF.

He knows how to lead the Bureau because he's tirelessly worked throughout the chain-of-command.

Mr. Cekada has worked as a special agent, he's managed ATF regional divisions and he's spent the past several years in the ATF's leadership.

Mr. Cekada has a track record of collaborating with federal and state law enforcement to investigate drug trafficking, firearm trafficking, arson and violent crimes.

He's led investigative efforts into a host of violent gangs and domestic terrorist groups, including MS-13 and Tren De Aragua.

The Committee has received nearly a dozen letters from law enforcement organizations commending Mr. Cekada and endorsing his nomination.

But I've also seen Mr. Cekada's work first-hand.

Last month, I successfully worked to secure a resolution for my ATF whistleblower who experienced severe retaliation at the hands of the Biden Administration.

He had blown the whistle on the ATF's misclassification scheme and improper hiring practices.

Mr. Cekada worked closely with my staff to bring this resolution forward.

I commend his strong leadership and aggressive efforts to find a solution for this brave whistleblower. And, if confirmed, I encourage him to enable more whistleblowers to come forward to help him understand what's going on throughout the Bureau.

Before I turn it over to Senator Durbin, I'll ask everyone to keep their questions limited to the five minutes allotted to keep the hearing on schedule.

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