the circumstances of stephanie thacker's early life were not easy. her hometown, hammond, west virginia, is one of the poorest counties in the nation, a place where nothing is taken for granted and where every success has to be hard-earned. stephanie credits a supportive family and community and the influence of two extraordinary and strong women who assumed her ability to achieve against the odds. while still in the crib, stephanie's mother and grandmother told her every day that she would go to college. and then when she did, in college, they told her she would succeed in law school. they instilled in her the value of education and a strong sense of public service and duty to her country, which we fulfill again today. ms. thacker heeded their advice graduating phag into cum laude from marshal university and second in her class from western university college of law where she was an editor of the law review. over the next 21 years, her passion and respect for the law along with her drive to seek justice for her clients resulted in this illustrious c

the clerk: nomination, stephanie dawn thacker of west virginia to be united states circuit judge forthe fourth circuit. the presiding officer: under the previous order, there will be 60 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form. mr. leahy: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from vermont. mr. leahy: i understand -- let me make sure i understand. time is divided for an hour until the vote? the presiding officer: that is correct. mr. leahy: thank you. i thank the distinguished presiding officer and i welcome him back after the break and all senators on both sides of the aisle. the senate is going to consider the nomination of stephanie dawn thacker of west virginia to gill a judicial vacancy in the fourth circuit court of appeals. i know that our distinguished senator from west virginia, senator manchin will be coming to speak in a few moments. i would note that this is a judicial -- a judicial vacancy in which the senate judiciary committee voted unanimously as the distinguished presiding officer will recall, in favor of this nomination more than five months a