Sen. Cruz Introduces Texas District Court Nominees Before Senate Judiciary Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today introduced two Texas District Court nominees, Mark Pittman to serve on the Northern District, and Sean Jordan to serve on the Eastern District, before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“Today is a terrific day for the state of Texas and for the federal judiciary. I’m very pleased to welcome both of these nominees who are exceptionally qualified judicial nominees and very fine human beings,” Sen. Cruz said. “With both Sean Jordan and Mark Pittman, I’m confident that we will have two excellent federal judges who will hear every litigant’s case with fairness and with fidelity to the law.”
A complete transcript of Sen. Cruz’s introductory remarks are below. Watch his remarks here.
“Thank you Mr. Chairman. Good morning, welcome to the both of you. Today is a terrific day for the state of Texas and for the federal judiciary. I’m very pleased to welcome both of these nominees who are exceptionally qualified judicial nominees and very fine human beings.
“Let’s start with Mark Pittman. Mark Pittman has been nominated to a seat in the Northern District of Texas. Justice Pittman is a sixth-generation Texan. He was born in Big Spring, Texas he was raised in Cooper. Justice Pittman received his college degree magna cum laude from Texas A&M University, and his law degree from the University of Texas, where he was a founding member of the Texas Review of Law and Politics. But not to forget his Aggie loyalty, Mark today teaches at the Texas A&M School of Law. Mark, I’m sure that is a powerful demonstration of your ability to bring people together that you’ve earned the esteem of both the University of Texas and A&M at the same time.
“After law school, Mark clerked for Ft. Worth Judge Eldon B. Mahon. The federal courthouse in Ft. Worth is named after Judge Mahon today, and Mark’s chambers will be there after he’s confirmed. Indeed, when he’s confirmed, I understand that Mark’s courtroom will be one that his former judge held as well. I’m sure that’s quite the honor, Mark, and I’m sure you will continue that legacy and make your judge proud. Mark also worked as a litigator at one of Ft. Worth’s preeminent law firms for several years learning from another great Texas, Dee Kelly.
“In 2004 Mark entered government service. From 2004 to 2015 he served as a Trial Attorney in the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, as an Assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Texas, as a senior attorney for the FDIC in Dallas, as an Enforcement Attorney for the SEC’s Ft. Worth office, and as a Special Assistant US attorney again in the Northern District of Texas. Apparently, Mark has trouble holding a job.
“Mark’s government service was distinguished every step of the way. He has received several awards for his public service including Excellence in Information Technology Award from the SEC and the Chairman’s Mission Achievement Award from the FDIC.
“Mark could only be drawn away from federal public service for an opportunity to serve Texas, when he was appointed as a state trial court judge. From 2015 to 2017, Mark served as a trial judge in the 352nd District Court in Tarrant County, Texas. And in 2017, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Mark to serve on the Second Court of Appeals in the State of Texas. He serves there as a justice today. So Mark has a wealth of experience as a state court judge both trial and appellate to draw on the federal bench.
“Then, we turn to Sean Jordan. Sean is someone I know exceptionally well. Sean has been nominated for a seat on the Eastern District of Texas. And he grew up in east, east, east, Texas, otherwise known as Fairfield, Connecticut. But while he was in Connecticut he learned about the value of service from his mother who was a nurse who spent many years working with terminally ill patients.
“After graduating from Fairfield College Preparatory School, Sean volunteered to serve our country in the Army. He served first as an infantryman and then as a paratrooper in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.
“While in the military, Sean met many of the Texans that serve in the armed forces, and they gave him some of what he says is the best advice he ever received: Go to college at the University of Texas.
“Like a great many Texans, Sean took their advice, moved to Texas, and never looked back. He has lived in Texas for 30 years, starting with his years at UT, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He followed that up with the University of Texas School of Law, where he graduated with honors in 1994.
“Sean then spent a decade in private practice, where he learned trial practice at every stage of a case.
“But Sean wanted to return to public service. So starting in 2004, Sean joined the office of the Solicitor General of Texas—and I have to tell you, both the State of Texas and I, personally, were much better for it. I hired Sean as an Assistant Solicitor General, initially, and then promoted him to be Deputy Solicitor General in the State of Texas because I saw firsthand the exceptional skill Sean brings as a lawyer representing the State of Texas. We worked side by side representing Texas before the Fifth Circuit, before the Texas Supreme Court, and before the United States Supreme Court.
“And I will tell you, Sean brings his background as a paratrooper to practicing law because in major cases representing the State of Texas, Sean was always the person you could count on to jump on the grenade and handle the most difficult, the most challenging, the most pressing issues.
“After 2012, after serving many years in the Solicitor General’s Office, Sean returned to private practice, and he’s been the co-chair of the appellate practice at two large law firms, where he has continued to represent clients at all levels in both the Texas and federal judiciary.
“With both Sean Jordan and Mark Pittman, I’m confident that we will have two excellent federal judges who will hear every litigant’s case with fairness and with fidelity to the law. I welcome your families, congratulations. And we’re proud of you both. Thank you.”
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