Barrasso, Enzi Address Senate Judiciary Committee at Nomination Hearing

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Mike Enzi, both R-Wyo., asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to approve the nomination of Richard Honaker as U.S. District Judge for Wyoming , asking the committee to move Honaker’s nomination through committee and on to the full Senate for confirmation.

“Richard Honaker is eminently qualified to serve on the Federal Bench in the District of Wyoming,” Barrasso said. “I know Mr. Honaker and respect him as an individual. I admire his legal abilities and his passion for the law. There is no question he is ready to fill the seat for which he has been nominated. He has my full support and I urge the Judiciary Committee to support his nomination as well.”

“Mr. Honaker will be an excellent jurist for our home state of Wyoming . He has the experience and the temperament to serve our state and the judiciary well. You will be making the correct decision if you vote to move his nomination forward,” said Enzi. “He knows the difference between legislating – from his experience as a Wyoming representative – and judging – from all his years of court work. Since the criteria is fairness I want to assure you Richard is among the fairest people I know.”

Barrasso and Enzi addressed their colleagues at the Judiciary Committee’s judicial nominations hearing today. In making their recommendations to move the Honaker nomination forward, the Wyoming senators emphasized Honaker’s extensive qualifications, including his experience with the Wyoming Bar and member of the Wyoming legislature, as well as Honaker’s commitment to fairness.

Honaker, a trial lawyer from Rock Springs and a 1976 graduate of the University of Wyoming College of Law, was nominated to fill the seat of retiring District Judge Clarence Brimmer in May of 2007.

The Judiciary Committee has the option to schedule a future vote on Mr. Honaker’s nomination.