President Trump Submits Four Nominees To Serve As Federal Judges in North Carolina
This week, President Donald J. Trump nominated Susan Rodriguez and Matthew Orso to serve in North Carolina’s Western District and David Bragdon and Lindsey Freeman to serve in North Carolina’s Middle District. All four of these nominees were recommended by Senators Budd and Tillis and will now progress through the Senate’s confirmation process.
Background on these nominees:
Susan Rodriguez is a U.S. Magistrate Judge currently serving in the Western District of North Carolina. Rodriguez previously served as a partner at the law firm, McGuireWoods LLP, where she led on the firm’s financial institutions industry team.
Matthew Orso is currently a partner at Troutman Pepper Locke. He previously cleared for Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. of the Western District of North Carolina.
David Bragdon serves as the Appellate Chief for the U.S. Attorneys’ Office. Mr. Bragdon previously clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and served as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Resident Legal Advisor for the Philippines.
Lindsey Freeman is currently a Assistant U.S. Attorney. Ms. Freeman previously clerked for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and worked at the law firm O’Melveny & Meyers and served in senior roles at the U.S. Department of Justice.
On these nominations, Senator Ted Budd said, “Ensuring principled constitutionalist judge are confirmed to the federal courts is a privilege and responsibility I take very seriously. As part of the Senate’s role in this process, I worked to thoroughly review potential nominees, and to make recommendations to the President highlighting individuals who will uphold our Constitution. The nominations of Susan Rodriguez and Matthew Orso to sit on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina and David Bragdon and Lindsey Freeman to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina will fill critical vacancies here in North Carolina with exceptional jurists who will serve our nation with distinction. I am grateful to President Trump for his inspired choices, and to Sen. Tillis for his partnership as we work to confirm these nominees in the Senate.”
Senator Thom Tillis said, “These four nominees are well-qualified to fill these important judicial vacancies in North Carolina, and I have confidence they will serve our great state with distinction. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have worked to review and confirm quality judges who uphold the Constitution and support the rule of law. I want to thank the White House for their partnership in working to select these outstanding nominees and look forward to getting them through the Judiciary Committee and confirmed on the Senate floor.”
