Jackson Purchase News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered remarks on the Senate floor today concerning judicial nominations, specifically addressing President Biden's nominee to the Third Circuit, Adeel Mangi, and Judge Nancy Maldonado’s nomination to the Seventh Circuit.

“I’ve spoken repeatedly about how Adeel Mangi, President Biden’s nominee to the Third Circuit, is unqualified for the bench,” McConnell stated.

McConnell expressed concerns beyond what he described as "radical associations and ethical lapses" among nominees. He pointed out Judge Nancy Maldonado’s performance as a trial judge nominated to the Seventh Circuit.

“Judge Nancy Maldonado has distinguished herself with sheer incompetence,” McConnell said. He referenced reforms implemented by then-Judiciary Committee Chairman Biden that track pending motions in federal courts. According to McConnell, Judge Maldonado has 125 fully briefed motions pending for more than six months—the highest number among judges of the Seventh Circuit.

“She would need to rule on one of these motions every workday for the next six months just to clear her existing Biden backlog,” McConnell added. He noted that this backlog places her beyond the 99th percentile of all district judges nationwide in terms of slowness.

McConnell criticized Judge Maldonado’s explanations for her backlog, which included “complexity of the case,” “voluminous transcripts/briefs to be read,” and “heavy civil and criminal caseload.” He questioned whether she would face less complex cases or lighter caseloads if promoted.

“Why on earth would our colleagues consider giving new and greater responsibilities to a judge who’s clearly struggling with the ones she’s already got?” he asked.

He also mentioned that when questioned about her case backlog, Judge Maldonado blamed her clerks: “Apparently, it’s not the woman with a judicial commission who’s responsible for justice delayed—it’s the 25-year-old brand-new lawyers on her staff!”

McConnell further criticized her response regarding an assault-weapon ban brief: “The junior Senator for Louisiana asked her how she defined ‘assault weapon’ in a brief supporting Illinois’ assault-weapon ban, and the Judge said she didn’t know because she didn’t write the brief.”

Highlighting an alternative within Chicago itself, McConnell suggested considering Judge Mary Rowland instead: “Without even leaving Chicago, Washington Democrats will find a different trial judge... The only difference? She’s actually good at her job.”

Judge Rowland reportedly has only three cases on her Biden list due to hearings being scheduled soon.

“The people and litigants of the Seventh Circuit deserve better,” concluded McConnell. “And if my colleagues want to see basic competence in their judges, they ought to reject this nominee.”