CONGRESSWOMAN JOHNSON RELEASED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ON JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT

Washington, DC – (Monday, March 21, 2011) - “There have been unsubstantiated reports in the media about my alleged lack of support for Sarah Saldana for the position of the United States Attorney in the Northern District of Texas.

“In the fall of 2008, I received applications from individuals who were interested in judicial nominations in Texas. Although I was not obligated, I handed all applications to President Obama’s transition team for further review including Sarah Saldana's credentials. 

“After the President’s inauguration, I met with White House personnel and have repeatedly adhered to all official procedures pertaining to the submission of names that involved potential candidates for the federal judge, U.S. Attorney, or U.S. Marshal positions. The official agreement between our delegation and the White House was to send three names for each category so that the White House could pick the potential candidate and move forward with the U.S. Senate. After close consultation with my local committee, I submitted the judicial nominees for the Northern District of Texas to the White House with the entire Texas Congressional Democratic delegation's support. The White House has not asked me for any other names. This has been a long tradition where President Clinton was in the White House consulting with then two Republican Texas Senators as well. The White House's agreement with our delegation was clear: No federal judge, U.S. Attorney, or U.S. Marshal will be nominated by the President unless that person has the confirmed support of the Texas Democratic delegation. 

“I will continue to work with my Congressional colleagues and the White House to appoint only the most qualified candidates for the Northern District. Hopefully, further action will occur regarding the other pending nominations, not just in the Northern District, but those in San Antonio, El Paso and Laredo as well.”

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. She is also the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas that includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek,Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.

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