WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) today released the following statements after the Senate today voted to confirm Matthew J. Kacsmaryk to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas.
“I am glad to see the Senate vote today to confirm my good friend, Matt Kacsmaryk, to fill this crucial judicial vacancy for the Northern District of Texas,” Sen. Cruz said. “As a passionate constitutionalist, Matt has served Texas well in his various professional and public service roles and proven himself to be a remarkably experienced and deserving candidate for this vacancy. In 2017, Senator John Cornyn and I were proud to recommend Matt’s nomination to President Trump, and in return Matt has long awaited this opportunity to serve the great state of Texas as a principled jurist and I am confident he will honorably serve Texas.”
“Matthew’s experience as a federal prosecutor and advocate for the First Amendment will serve him well in this role,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I’m grateful for my colleagues’ support for his confirmation and thankful to President Trump for his nomination.”
Sens. Cruz and Cornyn recommended Matthew J. Kacsmaryk to President Trump following an extensive review and interview process of the candidate pool by the bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee (FJEC). Sens. Cruz and Cornyn 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.
Matthew J. Kacsmaryk has served as deputy general counsel for First Liberty Institute of Plano, Texas, since 2014. In 2013, Mr. Kacsmaryk also worked as an adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University. From 2008 to 2013, Mr. Kacsmaryk served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. attorney’s office for the North District of Texas. Before that, he worked as an associate for Baker Botts LLP in Dallas. Mr. Kacsmaryk received his undergraduate degree from Abilene Christian University and his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. President Trump nominated Mr. Kacsmaryk on September 7, 2017 and his nomination was returned to the president at the end of the second session of the 115th Congress, after which the Judiciary Committee favorably reported his nomination again on February 7, 2019.