May 31, 2017
| Senator Amy Klobuchar United States Senate 302 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 |
Senator Charles Grassley United States Senate 135 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 |
| Senator Al Franken United States Senate 309 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 |
Senator Diane Feinstein United States Senate 331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 |
| Re: | Nomination of David Stras to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit |
Dear Senators:
We write to support Minnesota Supreme Court Justice David Stras’s nomination to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. As former members of Congress, we understand the important task facing you as you consider Justice Stras’s nomination. We believe Justice Stras has the qualifications and attributes to be an Eighth Circuit Court judge.
Justice Stras is highly qualified to serve on the Eighth Circuit through his service as a law professor, his work as a justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court, and his private practice of law. We understand that at the University of Minnesota Law School, Justice Stras earned a national reputation for his work on federal jurisdiction and federal courts. His academic work was not ideologically driven, but reflected a profound respect for the importance of federal courts.
It is clear from his time at the University of Minnesota that Justice Stras cares deeply about our system of justice, and understands the importance of an objective and fair judiciary.
Similarly, during his seven years on the Minnesota Supreme Court, Justice Stras has demonstrated a rigorous intellectual analysis and a commitment to the rule of law. Justice Stras’s approach to each case is rooted in respect for existing precedent, and he applies that precedent thoughtfully and analytically. As a result, any litigant whose case comes before Justice Stras can be assured he will decide their case objectively and fairly.
In summary, we believe Justice Stras’s track record of service to our nation’s state and federal courts reflects the type of background that is ideal for a federal appellate judge. We urge you to confirm his nomination so his service can continue on the Eighth Circuit.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Alec Olson
Member of Congress
(1963-1967)
Al Quie
Member of Congress
(1965-1983)
Governor
(1983-1987)
Tom Hagedorn
Member of Congress
(1975-83)
Rudy Boschwitz
U.S. Senator (R-MN, 1978-1991)
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Human Rights
Commission (Geneva- 2005)
David Durenberger
Senator
(1979-1995)
Gerry Sikorski
Member of Congress
(1981-1993)
Vin Weber
Member of Congress
(1981-1993)
Tim Penny
Member of Congress
(1983-1995)
David Minge
Member of Congress
(1993-2001)
Judge, Minnesota Court of Appeals (2002-2012)
Gil Gutknecht
Member of Congress
(1995-2005
John Kline
Member of Congress
(2003-2017)
Norm Coleman
Senator
(2003 – 2009)