Senate confirms Alabama attorney Kevin Newsom to sit on the Eleventh Circuit

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Kevin Newsom

With the support of both of Alabama’s U.S. Senators, the U.S. Senate confirmed Birmingham attorney Kevin Newsom to be a judge on the Atlanta-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Tuesday afternoon.

By a vote of 66-31 Alabama’s former solicitor general, who currently chairs the appellate group at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings in Birmingham, was confirmed. Trump nominated Newsom to the bench in May.

“The people of Alabama made their voices heard overwhelmingly last November in electing President Trump because they know that a new generation of judges stands ready to restore respect for the rule of law,” said U.S. Sen. Luther Strange. “As with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, I was proud to vote for Kevin Newsom, and I look forward to his long tenure as a defender of the Constitution.”

Prior to the confirmation vote, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby made a floor speech in support of Newsom calling him an “exceptional choice.”

“I am confident that Kevin Newsom would serve honorably and apply the law with impartiality and fairness, which I believe is required of all judges. … I believe President Trump has made the right decision in selecting Kevin to sit on the Eleventh Circuit,” Shelby said in his floor speech.

Newsom will serve in the seat vacated by The Honorable Joel F. Dubina, who retired on October 24, 2013.

Watch Shelby’s video in support of Newsom below:

The Senate also confirmed Christopher Wray of Georgia as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) by a vote of 92-5. Wray will work closely with Attorney General Jeff Sessions on implementing President Trump’s agenda.