VIDEO: Sen. Moran Urges the Senate to Confirm Jeffrey Kuhlman as U.S. District Judge for Kansas

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) spoke on the Senate floor yesterday in support of the nomination of Jeffrey Kuhlman, a Great Bend native, to serve as a United States District Judge for the District of Kansas. The Senate is scheduled to vote on Mr. Kuhlman's confirmation later today.

"Mr. Kuhlman has demonstrated a strong commitment to the rule of law, a deep respect for the Constitution and a clear dedication to serving the people of Kansas," said Sen. Moran. "His experience both inside and outside the courtroom has prepared him well for the responsibilities of the federal bench, and I'm confident in his professional competence and judicial temperament."

In February, Sen. Moran applauded the nomination of Mr. Kuhlman after meeting with him during the White House's selection process. In April, he introduced Mr. Kuhlman during his nomination hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. In addition to Mr. Kuhlman, Judge Anthony Powell and Mr. Tony Mattivi have also been nominated to the federal bench for Kansas and await confirmation by the full Senate.

Click HERE to Watch Sen. Moran's Full Remarks

Sen. Moran's full remarks as delivered:

"Madam President, thank you. The Senate will shortly consider - in fact, tomorrow we'll vote on cloture and nomination, confirmation of the nomination of Jeffrey Kuhlman to be a Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. I rise this evening to urge my colleagues to support his confirmation.

"During my time in the Senate, I've had the opportunity to vote on the confirmation of the three current Kansas District Court Judges. With each nominee, I weigh the candidate's temperament, principles, experience and commitment to administer equal justice under the law.

"In addition to the three current District Court Judges in Kansas, there are three additional vacancies in the District Courts of Kansas. Mr. Kuhlman is the first of the three Kansans the Senate will be considering to fill those vacancies.

"I certainly had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Kuhlman. I encouraged the White House to make his nomination to be a judge, and I was impressed - I would not have done that but for my sincere and real impression of his expertise, his legal experience and his commitment to serving the people of Kansas.

"I've always had a desire to see - growing up in a small town in rural Kansas - that there might be federal judges who could come from small towns, and I've always been looking for someone who practices law in a small town in our state, that has federal court experience.

"Mr. Kuhlman is a native of western Kansas. He grew up in a town, in a county seat town called Ness City, not too far from my hometown and it has a population of just a little over 1,000 people. And maybe this doesn't matter to everyone or to most people, but I want people who grew up in that manner to know that there's a future, that there's things that they can do, and that there's not a handicap to be a small-town rural Kansas kid.

"In helping select candidates for the White House, I had the goal of making certain that we select qualified candidates from across the state, but I also was always interested in, could there be a rural person?

"Jeffrey earned his bachelor's degree in history from Kansas State University before receiving his law degree from the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University.

"After law school, Mr. Kuhlman returned to Kansas and was selected to serve a two-year clerkship for, what soon became Chief Judge, Judge Eric F. Melgren. In that role, he gained experience - he gained valuable and hands-on experience across all phases of federal litigation. Jeffrey then entered private practice as a litigation associate at a Wichita firm: Hinkle Law Firm.

"Mr. Kuhlman now has been a partner at Watkins Calcara in Great Bend, where his practice focuses on civil litigation, including municipal law, constitutional matters, commercial disputes and personal injury cases.

"Mr. Kuhlman and his wife, Lauren, who is originally from Albert - even a smaller town, they're raising their five young children in Great Bend - another small town in Kansas.

"Mr. Kuhlman has demonstrated strong commitment to the rule of law, a deep respect for the Constitution and a clear dedication to serving the people of Kansas.

"His experience both inside and outside the courtroom has prepared him well for the responsibilities of the federal bench, and I'm confident in his professional competence and judicial temperament.

"I'm pleased to support his nomination, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to confirm Mr. Jeffrey Kuhlman as a U.S. District Judge for Kansas. I believe he would meet all the qualifications and desires by members of the United States Senate. Madam President, I yield the floor."

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