Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) today released the following statements after President Trump announced his intention to nominate Wes Hendrix to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Lubbock, Mark Pittman to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth, and Sean Jordan for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Plano:
“I applaud President Trump’s nomination of these Texans, who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and a penchant for public service,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Texans will be well-served by these individuals on the bench, and I look forward to working with my colleagues for their swift confirmation.”
“I was happy to recommend Wes, Mark, and Sean to the President,” Sen. Cruz said. “They each bring to the bench a proven record of professionalism and excellence. I commend the President for these nominations and urge my colleagues to quickly confirm them to the bench.”
Senators Cornyn and Cruz recommended all three nominees to President Trump following an extensive review and interview process of the candidate pool by the bipartisan 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.
James Wesley (“Wes”) Hendrix of Texas has been nominated to serve as District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Wes Hendrix serves as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas. He is Chief of the office’s Appellate Division, a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, and Chairperson of the Nationwide Appellate Chiefs Workings Group. Prior to joining the government in 2007, Mr. Hendrix was an associate in the Dallas, Texas, office of Baker Botts L.L.P., where his practice focused on complex civil litigation. After graduating from law school, he served as a law clerk to Judge Patrick Higginbotham of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Mr. Hendrix received his B.A., with Honors, from the University of Chicago and his J.D., with High Honors, from the University of Texas School of Law.
Mark T. Pittman of Texas has been nominated to serve as District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Mark Pittman is a Justice on Texas’s Second Court of Appeals, where he has served since 2017. Prior to joining the appellate court, Justice Pittman was a Judge on the State’s 352nd District Court, based in Fort Worth, Texas. Before his judicial service, Justice Pittman served as an Enforcement Attorney with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Fort Worth, Texas and held multiple positions within the Department of Justice, including as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas and Trial Attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Civil Division. After graduating from law school, Justice Pittman clerked for Judge Eldon Mahon of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Texas A&M University and his J.D. from the University of Texas.
Sean D. Jordan of Texas has been nominated to serve as District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Sean Jordan is a partner in the Austin, Texas, office of Jackson Walker L.L.P
