Support letter for Judge Dana M. Douglas

The Honorable Richard Durbin 
Chairman
Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate
711 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510

The Honorable Charles Grassley
Ranking Member
Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate
135 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

July 22, 2022

Dear Chairman Durbin and Ranking Member Grassley:

We write to express our strong support for President Biden’s nomination of Judge Dana M. Douglas to serve as United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit to succeed retiring Circuit Judge James L. Dennis.

Like Judge Douglas, we were honored to serve as law clerks to U. S. District Judge Ivan L. R. Lemelle. Judge Lemelle fosters continuous relationships with his clerks and brings us together using all forms of communication. Only a few of us had the pleasure of working with Judge Douglas during her clerkship, but we all benefit from our shared experiences with the distinguished Judge Lemelle. We have witnessed Judge Douglas’ stellar career as a practicing attorney, judge and bar association leader and have the utmost confidence in Judge Douglas’ abilities, integrity, wisdom, temperament, and dedication to public service and the rule of law.

Judge Douglas’ exceptional credentials speak for themselves. A graduate from Loyola University New Orleans School of Law and Miami University of Ohio, Shareholder at Liskow & Lewis, United States Magistrate Judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, president of the New Orleans Bar Association and the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, and former New Orleans Civil Service Commissioner, Judge Douglas is eminently qualified to serve on one of just thirteen federal appellate courts in the land. She has worked in the trenches as a law clerk, law firm associate, and law firm partner where she has handled complex litigation across a wide variety of industry sectors in both state and federal court. She has presided over the complex and fact-intensive proceedings of a trial court and written cogent decisions. Judge Douglas’ experiences inform her gracious temperament and character as she presides.

Judge Douglas is dedicated to family and country, which is evidenced in her service and dedication to the community and the rule of law. She grew up in a family that revered public service and dedicated their professional lives to it. Judge Douglas believes in treating the people appearing before her with respect and empathy fully understanding the value of the law and the American Constitution in our lives. She will bring the same understanding and sensitivity to the Fifth Circuit’s decisions.

We are proud to support President Biden’s nomination of Judge Douglas and implore the Senate to confirm her.

Sincerely,