Senate Holds Confirmation Hearing for Cohen-Recommended Judicial Nominee Ed Stanton III
[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton III, Congressman Steve Cohen’s (TN-09) recommendation to President Obama to serve as District Court Judge for the Western District of Tennessee, today appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is tasked with reviewing nominations to the federal bench. The Congressman recommended Stanton after convening a bipartisan, racially diverse screening committee of Memphis-area attorneys. Mr. Stanton is a lifelong Memphian and graduate of Central High School who has served as U.S. Attorney for nearly 5 years.
“In private practice at FedEx, working for the city of Memphis, and as U.S. Attorney, Ed Stanton has proven himself an outstanding lawyer,” said Congressman Cohen. “I was proud to recommend Ed Stanton to President Obama, pleased the President nominated him for this position, and am encouraged by today’s confirmation hearing in the Senate. U.S. Attorney Stanton is well-respected by his peers and will serve our country and the people of Memphis in an outstanding fashion when he is confirmed.”
Edward L. Stanton III graduated from the University of Memphis in 1994 as well as the University of Memphis School of Law in 1997. At the U of M School of Law, Stanton was President of the Black Law Students Association, Vice-President of the Student Bar Association, and selected by his classmates to give the commencement address. After graduating, Stanton served as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Memphis, in private practice with two Memphis law firms, and as Senior Counsel with Federal Express Corporation. He was nominated for the position of United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee by President Obama on April 14, 2010, and was soon after confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate. As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Stanton is the chief federal law enforcement officer within the 22 counties that comprise the Western District of Tennessee.
Stanton has a long record of community service. He has served on the boards of numerous organizations including the National Bar Association – Ben F. Jones Chapter where he served as president, Tennessee Commission on National and Community Service, and as chairman of Shelby County Books from Birth. In 2005, at the age of 33, Stanton received the Memphis Bar Association's Sam A. Myar, Jr. Award – the highest honor the Memphis Bar Association bestows annually upon a lawyer under the age of 40 for outstanding legal and community service. Stanton is married with two children.