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Christensen Praises Finch, Asks For Gomez OK

Sept. 9, 2004 – Calling him one of our brightest and our best, Delegate Donna Christensen Wednesday urged the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to approve the renomination of Chief Judge Raymond Finch for another 10-year term.
Christensen told the committee that the fact that both Republican and Democratic presidents have nominated Judge Finch, speaks volumes to his character, and is testament to his sterling judicial qualifications. "Judge Finch…distinguished himself for his reliable impartiality, his consistent judicial temperament, and as one of the few judges who could explain the complexities of jurisprudence in a manner that could be easily understood by anyone that came before him," Christensen said.
After Christensen's introduction, Finch was placed under oath and took questions from the committee. The committee was to schedule a vote on whether to take Finch's nomination before the full Senate.
Finch has been a District Court Judge since 1994. Former President Bill Clinton nominated him.
Before his District Court appointment, Finch served in Territorial Court from 1976 to 1994, finishing that portion of his career as chief judge. He graduated from Howard University Law School in Washington, D.C., in 1965.
Christensen also took the time to remind the committee that the nomination of Assistant U.S. Attorney Curtis Gomez has not yet come to the Senate floor for a vote. "I would not only ask for a timely vote on this nominee, but also respectfully request that the committee use its influence to have both of our outstanding nominees confirmed by this body before it adjourns…so that the District Court of the Virgin Islands can have the stability and continuity it needs to optimally serve both our territory and our nation."
Gomez's nomination passed the committee months ago, but is caught up in the fallout over some controversial Bush nominees that have backlogged judicial nominations for many jurisdictions. "Both Gomez and Finch are outstanding nominees," said Christensen, "but they are unfortunately caught up in the political conflict."
Christensen, however, expects that both will clear in the lame duck Congressional session, which will take place after the November election.
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