Mikulski Speaks in Support of Nominee for Maryland District Court Judge Grimm

Senate Approved Judge Grimm Confirmation with Bipartisan Vote of 92-1

Senator Recommended Judge Grimm for Federal Bench to President Obama

December 3, 2012

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today spoke on the Senate floor in support of the nomination of Judge Paul William Grimm to fill a vacancy on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, located in Baltimore. Senators Mikulski and Ben Cardin (also D-Md.) recommended Judge Grimm, who currently serves as Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Maryland. The Senate approved Judge Grimm in a bipartisan vote of 92-1.  

Judge Grimm will occupy the seat currently held by Judge Benson E. Legg.  

"When I consider nominees for the federal bench, I have four criteria: absolute integrity, judicial competence and temperament, a commitment to core constitutional principles and a history of civic engagement in Maryland," Senator Mikulski said. "Judge Grimm does exactly that. He brings the right hard-working values to the bench, but also the necessary experience, having sharpened his skills for many years as a litigator, and then as an indispensable asset to the District Court of Maryland as Chief Magistrate Judge."  

JUDGE PAUL WILLIAM GRIMM  

Judge Paul William Grimm currently serves as a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Maryland, a position he has held since 1997.  He received his juris doctorate magna cum laude from the University of New Mexico School Of Law, where he served in the United States Army Judge Advocate General Corps during law school recess, and upon graduation, joined the JAG as a Captain.  

Judge Grimm has a proven record of experience on the court having spent 15 years as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Baltimore, 6 of which he spent as Chief Magistrate and has served our country proudly for 20 years in the Judge Advocate General Corps. He has spent his entire legal career in the State of Maryland, having served as an Assistant State's Attorney in Baltimore County, Chief of Litigation at the Maryland Department of Licensing and Regulation, and in private practice.  

Senator Mikulski's remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow:  

"I am so proud to be here to support the nomination of Judge Paul Grimm – a stellar Marylander and legal mind nominated to serve on the District Court of Maryland. Senator Cardin and I recommended Judge Grimm to President Obama with the utmost confidence in his abilities, talent and competence for the job. And the ABA agreed with us. They gave him their highest ranking of unanimously well-qualified.  

"I'd like to thank Senators Reid and McConnell for breaking through the logjam and bringing this worthy nominee to a vote, which has been pending for nearly six months on the Senate floor. Senator Leahy deserves to be commended for his swift movement of these nominees through the committee process. We should all be so committed to a functional and qualified bench.   

"I have had the opportunity to recommend several judicial nominees, and I take my 'advise and consent' responsibilities very seriously. When I consider nominees for the federal bench, I have four criteria: absolute integrity, judicial competence and temperament, a commitment to core constitutional principles and a history of civic engagement in Maryland. I mention these standards often because I mean it. And I expect nominees who I recommend to exceed them.  

"Judge Grimm does exactly that. He brings the right hard-working values to the bench, but also the necessary experience, having sharpened his skills for many years as a litigator, and then as an indispensable asset to the District Court of Maryland as Chief Magistrate Judge.  

"Judge Grimm knows what it means to be of service to profession, to Maryland and to country. He is a public servant first and foremost. He started very early prosecuting courts martial during law school summers while attending on an ROTC scholarship. He then served in the JAG Corps for three years, beginning his career at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County, Maryland, and later serving at the Pentagon in this capacity. But it didn't end there. Judge Grimm went on to serve as a reserve JAG officer for 22 years while maintaining full time employment. He ultimately retired in 2001 as a decorated Lieutenant Colonel.  

"His life and resume are a display of civic engagement from his service on numerous bar associations and professional organizations in Maryland to his work with the mock trial team at Towson High School and the Boy Scouts.  

"Judge Grimm is known as a trailblazer in the Maryland legal community. He is well respected, not only for his extensive writing and teaching, but also for his commitment to the improvement of the practice of law and the administration of justice. He has spent his entire legal career in Maryland and is absolutely prepared for service on the Court, having already served for 16 years as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the District of Maryland. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Grimm spent 13 years as a litigator in private practice, handling civil cases in a variety of practice areas. He also served as an Assistant Attorney General for Maryland and a Prosecutor in Baltimore County.  

"As you can see, his experience and service are unparalleled. Most recently, he has served on the advisory committee for the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure since 2009 and later was designated the Chair of the Discovery subcommittee. He has been honored by the ABA, the Maryland Daily Record and has twice been recognized for his service to the University of Maryland School of Law.  

"It is critical that we have judges with commitment to public service, civic engagement and school of law. Judge Grimm has all of these qualities and more. His nomination is well-deserved.  

"I also hope that we will take up many other deserving nominees. Nineteen nominees remain on the calendar, fifteen of whom were reported by voice vote, many of whom are the result of bipartisan recommendations.  

"I urge my colleagues to move swiftly on these judges, and join me in strong support of Judge Paul Grimm."