Sens. Cruz, Cornyn Praise Senate Confirmation of David Morales to be Federal Judge in Corpus Christi
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) today released the following statements after the Senate confirmed David Morales to fill a judicial vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Corpus Christi:
"I am delighted my Senate colleagues have confirmed David Morales to the federal bench," Sen. Cruz said. "His wealth of experience, coupled with his dedication to the rule of law and principled professionalism will serve Texans in Corpus Christi and the Southern District well."
"In David, President Trump has selected a highly-trained lawyer who has spent his career mastering complex legal issues and serving the people of Texas," said Sen. Cornyn. "The Corpus Christi community and the entire Southern District of Texas will benefit from his outstanding experience."
Sens. Cruz and Cornyn recommended this nominee to President Trump following an extensive review and interview process of the candidate pool by the bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee (FJEC). Sens. Cruz and Cornyn established the FJEC, a bipartisan panel of leading attorneys in Texas, to help identify the most qualified candidates to fill judicial vacancies. The panel reviewed applications, interviewed candidates, and made recommendations to the Senators, who interviewed individuals before making their recommendations to the president.
David Morales currently is a partner at Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP, where his practice focuses on complex litigation, administrative law, as well as public and higher education law. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Morales served as Deputy General Counsel to the University of Texas System Board of Regents, and as General Counsel to the Governor of Texas. As General Counsel to the Governor, Mr. Morales advised the Governor on all civil and criminal issues pending before the Office of the Governor, under both state and federal law. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Morales joined the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, where he served for over seventeen years, ultimately rising to the rank of Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation and Deputy First Assistant Attorney General. As Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation, Mr. Morales supervised all trial and most appellate matters for the State of Texas, managing over 300 civil litigation attorneys and over 15,000 litigation matters. From 2012-2014, Mr. Morales served as an Ex Officio Member of the Texas Access to Justice Commission. Mr. Morales earned his B.B.A. from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, and his J.D. from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas.
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