WASHINGTON— U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) released the following statements after the Senate confirmed Drew Tipton to fill Texas’ final federal judicial vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Corpus Christi:
“Drew’s dedication to justice and his fellow Texans will make him an excellent federal judge,” said Sen. Cornyn. “With this confirmation, we’ve now filled every single federal judicial bench in the state with distinguished Texans.”
“I’m grateful my colleagues have confirmed Judge Tipton to fill the last federal judicial vacancy. He will now serve the Southern District of Texas,” Sen. Cruz said. “Drew will be an excellent judge, and Texans will be well served for years to come by his professionalism, experience, and commitment to the rule of law.”
The Senators recommended this nominee to President Trump following an extensive review and interview process of the candidate pool by the Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee (FJEC). Sen. Cornyn and Sen. Cruz 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.
Drew Tipton is a partner at Baker Hostetler, LLP in Houston, Texas, where his practice focuses on complex labor and employment and trade secret litigation. Before joining Baker Hostetler in 1999, Mr. Tipton was in private practice with Marek, Griffin, & Knaupp, LLP and Littler Mendelson, PC. Mr. Tipton also served 5 years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Tipton served as a law clerk to Judge John D. Rainey of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Mr. Tipton earned his B.A. from Texas A&M University and his J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston.