Rockefeller, Manchin Ask Senate Judiciary to Quickly Confirm Gina Marie Groh

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin (both D-W.Va.) today urged colleagues in the Senate to move swiftly in confirming Judge Gina Marie Groh to serve as a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia. 

The bench has been vacant since the passing of Judge W. Craig Broadwater, in 2006.  Consequently, the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia has been without a federal judge for the past five years.

“Judge Groh is extraordinarily qualified to serve on the federal bench,” Rockefeller said. “I’ve come to know her as a supremely talented attorney, a meticulous student of the law and a proven leader in her community and her nomination is deeply personal to me. I am thrilled that President Obama chose Judge Groh to fill the huge void left upon the passing of my dear friend Craig Broadwater.”

“Judge Groh is a well-respected and recognized member of her community in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, as I have known for many years. As West Virginia’s Governor, I had the privilege of appointing Judge Groh to her current position as Circuit Court Judge in the 23^rd Judicial Circuit in 2006,” Senator Manchin said. “I believe that Judge Groh’s experience, intellect, leadership, impartiality, and deep roots in the community make her a prudent choice for the vacancy in the Northern District of West Virginia. If appointed, she will be the first resident of the Eastern Panhandle to sit as a U.S. District Court Judge in Martinsburg. Her extensive legal experience and dedication to public service demonstrate that she exemplifies not only the qualities of a talented jurist, but also the high moral character and sense of justice necessary to make a great judge.”

Groh’s nomination is before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. Since Judge Broadwater’s untimely death, the other judges in the district have stepped up and shown tremendous effort to handle the caseload, but after such a long vacancy, it is time for this position to be filled.   

“I know Judge Groh is up to the task. She is unrelenting in her commitment and dedication to upholding the principles of fairness and justice that are the foundation of our judicial system,” Rockefeller said. “I was honored to recommend her nomination to President Obama, and I know the citizens of the Northern District will be proud to have Judge Gina Marie Groh serve on the federal bench.”

September 7, 2011

Senator Whitehouse and distinguished members of the Judiciary Committee, it is an honor to be able to speak today on behalf of Judge Gina Marie Groh to serve as a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia.  

This is a very important nomination for the people of West Virginia and the residents of the Eastern Panhandle in particular.  It is also deeply personal to me.  

This seat has been vacant since the passing of my dear friend, Judge W. Craig Broadwater, in 2006.  Consequently, the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia has been without a federal judge for the past five years.

Since Judge Broadwater’s untimely death, the other judges in the district have stepped up and shown tremendous effort to handle the caseload, but after such a long vacancy, it is time for this position to be filled.  Justice requires that our federal bench be fully staffed with the most highly-qualified individuals – and Judge Groh is absolutely the right person for the job.  

She is a supremely talented lawyer, a meticulous student of the law, a proven leader in her community, and although a native of Maryland, she is a West Virginian through and through.

But most importantly, she is unrelenting in her commitment and dedication to upholding the principles of fairness and justice that are the foundation of our judicial system.  This is something that we must demand of all judicial nominees.  Some people like to talk about these principles, but Judge Groh lives them every day.  That is why I was so very proud to recommend her to President Obama for this position.

One of her most impressive qualities is her willingness to stand up for those who are most in need of legal help.  After spending nine years honing essential trial skills as a litigation associate at several firms in West Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland, Judge Groh returned to West Virginia to protect the public as an assistant prosecutor in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties.  

There, she prosecuted some of the toughest cases imaginable – murder, kidnapping, robbery, and sexual assault – and defended the rights of people who have been victimized by these terrible crimes. 

And like Judge Broadwater before her, Judge Groh will bring a wealth of judicial experience to the federal bench.  In 2006, she was appointed to fill a newly-created state trial court position by my colleague, then-Governor Manchin.  

With a reputation for having a great judicial temperament, being well-prepared for cases, and treating all litigants with fairness and respect, she earned the confidence of the people of West Virginia and was elected to serve a full term in Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties.  

If confirmed, Judge Groh will be ready for the job on day one.  She knows how to run a courtroom efficiently and effectively, she knows what it is like to have to make tough decisions and issue weighty opinions, and she has a clear and strong record of using her legal skills for the betterment of her fellow citizens.  

There is no question that President Obama made the right decision when he nominated her – and it is my hope that the Senate will move forward quickly to confirm this supremely qualified nominee.

In closing, I would like to congratulate Judge Groh on her nomination and thank the Judiciary Committee and its staff for all of your hard work in helping to fulfill the Senate’s important Constitutional duty to provide Advice and Consent to judicial nominees.  I know that it requires a tremendous amount of work, and I want to let you know that I deeply appreciate your efforts.

September 7, 2011

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to all of the members of the Judiciary Committee. I am greatly honored to be able to join you today to introduce an exemplary candidate for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia and someone who has become a dear friend of mine, Judge Gina Marie Groh. I want you to know that I really appreciate the opportunity to be here to speak to Judge Groh’s exemplary experience and contributions to public service.

First, I would like to thank Senator Rockefeller for recommending Judge Groh for this prestigious position, and for his steadfast support for her nomination. I know that he has been instrumental in promoting Judge Groh’s impressive background here in Washington, and I am truly grateful for his efforts. 

I would also like to recognize Judge Groh’s husband, Steve Groh, her sons, 12-year old Stephen and 6-year old Michael, and other members of her family who are also here. I am delighted that all of you were able to join us.

Judge Groh is a well-respected and recognized member of her community in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, as I have known for many years. As West Virginia’s Governor, I had the privilege of appointing Judge Groh to her current position as Circuit Court Judge in the 23^rd Judicial Circuit in 2006. Judge Groh was recommended to me by a bipartisan merit selection committee made up of the most notable figures in West Virginia’s legal and business community, including the President of the West Virginia State Bar, the dean of WVU’s law school, former Senator Carte Goodwin, and other distinguished representatives in the state. Judge Groh’s in-depth knowledge of the courtroom and excellent reputation with the state bar made her a standout candidate, and she was selected as the committee’s overwhelming consensus choice for the circuit court appointment. Judge Groh is the first female circuit judge to serve in the Eastern Panhandle, and one of only six female circuit court judges in the entire state of West Virginia.

Prior to her circuit court appointment, Judge Groh served as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney at the Prosecuting Attorney’s Offices in Berkeley County and Jefferson County, West Virginia. During her 8 years as prosecutor, she established a strong record of protecting her fellow West Virginians by tirelessly pursuing convictions for such crimes as murder, robbery, rape, child abuse, drunk driving, and drug-related offenses.

Judge Groh has not only excelled professionally, but has also risen to become a true pillar of her community in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. She dedicates her time to countless charitable foundations and serves on a number of boards. For many years, she has worked for such programs as “Robes to School” and the “Meals with Love Ministry,” and has been very involved with her alma mater, Shepherd University, serving both with the Wellness Center and as a member of the Alumni Board. These are really only a few examples of her extensive contributions to the area, for which I am personally also very grateful.

Judge Groh graduated summa cum laude from Shepherd University in 1986, with a bachelor of science degree. She earned the university’s highest academic honor as a McMurran Scholar, in addition to serving as editor-in-chief of the newspaper and vice president of her graduating class. Judge Groh went on to earn her J.D. from West Virginia University’s College of Law in Morgantown, West Virginia.

I believe that Judge Groh’s experience, intellect, leadership, impartiality, and deep roots in the community make her a prudent choice for the vacancy in the Northern District of West Virginia. If appointed, she will be the first resident of the Eastern Panhandle to sit as a U.S. District Court Judge in Martinsburg. Her extensive legal experience and dedication to public service demonstrate that she exemplifies not only the qualities of a talented jurist, but also the high moral character and sense of justice necessary to make a great judge. 

I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing today on Judge Groh’s nomination, and allowing me the opportunity to speak to her abilities. Along with Senator Rockefeller, I wholeheartedly support Judge Groh’s nomination, and I look forward to working with you to confirm her to the federal bench as swiftly as possible.

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