Bayh names nominees for court
INDIANAPOLIS— Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., announced his recommendations for three federal court vacancies on Monday, which if approved, would double the number of female federal district judges in Indiana, and put the first African-American federal judge in Indiana history.
Bayh nominated Jon DeGuilio for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. Magistrate Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson and Judge Tanya Walton Pratt were Bayh’s selected candidates for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
Bayh said that Indiana should welcome the historic nomination of two females, one of whom – Pratt – is an African-American, to the federal court.
“This day is long overdue,” Bayh said.
Bayh also said that he hopes that Pratt’s nomination will inspire Hoosier children to earn a quality education, to follow the rules set before them, and to do right.
Pratt, currently a judge in the probate division of Marion Superior Court, said that if both President Barack Obama and the U.S. Senate confirm her, serving on the federal bench will mean a great deal to her.
“I will be so very proud and honored to serve my nation,” said Pratt.
Bayh also said that he and Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., worked closely together to choose these nominees. Bayh said Lugar has made a point to recruit more females to positions of power, and that Monday’s nominees fulfill that goal.
“Today we will move from one to three [females in the federal court],” said Bayh.
Jane Magnus-Stinson, the other female nominee, has served as U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Indiana since 2007. Magnus-Stinson worked closely with Bayh when he was governor as both his legal counsel and his deputy chief of staff.
“Thanks so much for, once again, putting your faith in me,” Magnus-Stinson said to Bayh during the press conference.
Jon DeGuilio is currently the executive vice president for both NorthWest Indiana Bancorp and Peoples Bank. DeGuilio said that even as a child he had a desire to be both a lawyer and to serve the public.
“I’m truly honored and humbled today…[Today is] the realization of a life’s dream,” said DeGuilio.
Bayh said that he thinks that these nominations will be accepted by President Barack Obama. He said that they will have a better chance of being confirmed because he and Lugar worked together.
“I am highly optimistic [that the nominees will be accepted by the president],” Bayh said.
President Obama formally will nominate these candidates when the Senate reconvenes this week.
