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WASHINGTON - Thomas Schroeder, a Winston-Salem attorney who has defended R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., appeared to be on his way to a seat on the U.S. District Court for middle North Carolina after a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday.
President Bush appointed Schroeder, a partner in the firm of Womble Carlyle, in January to the court that handles federal cases for 24 counties.
Promising to an impartial judge, Schroeder said, "I have appeared in courtrooms where to my dismay I felt like I did not get the fair treatment or consideration that I thought was appropriate. I know what that feels like.
"It is our duty to uphold the rule of law and to ensure that due process for every litigant who comes before the court no matter what the background or race or religion," he said.
Schroeder was one of four federal judge nominees appearing before the committee. None appeared to be controversial.
Their expected rapid confirmation in the next few weeks is in marked contrast to a bitter fight being waged between the Bush administration and congressional Democrats over other judicial appointments.
The hearing was adjourned twice as Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., the only senator questioning the nominees, left to vote on the appointment of Judge Leslie Southwick to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., claimed Southwick had "an appalling record on civil rights and the rights of employees who challenge corporate abuses."
After Southwick won Senate approval by a 59-38 vote, President Bush issued a statement saying "many of America's federal courts continue to have unnecessary vacancies" and he called on the Senate to "promptly provide these nominees fair up or down votes."
While Whitehouse said the four nominees before the committee Wednesday had "exemplary qualifications," he charged that too many Bush nominees were "Trojan horses" who would bring their political and philosophical beliefs into the courtrooms.
Schroeder was introduced at the hearing by both North Carolina senators - Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr -- as one of the state's leading attorneys.
One of Schroeder's most prominent cases was successfully defending R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. in a suit brought by the Johns Manville Trust on behalf of hundreds of thousands of smokers.
"Tom has been at the forefront of some of the largest litigation cases in North Carolina and the country," Dole told the committee. "He has handled cases with millions and even billions at stake for his clients."
In addition, she said, Schroeder has offered free legal services to Hurricane Katrina victims who had trouble proving clear title to their damaged or destroyed homes.
Schroeder also has volunteered to work with first-time offender youths, Dole said, and to assist in prosecuting sexual abuse cases involving minors.
Burr said Schroeder played trumpet in the Winston-Salem orchestra while in high school, but gave up a promising music career to go into law.
"Simply put, Tom Schroeder is a good man," Burr said.
Attending the hearing were Schroeder's wife, Kem, also an attorney and president of the Winston-Salem Children's Museum, their daughter Katie, 17, and son Cy, 15.
President Bush appointed Schroeder, a partner in the firm of Womble Carlyle, in January to the court that handles federal cases for 24 counties.
Promising to an impartial judge, Schroeder said, "I have appeared in courtrooms where to my dismay I felt like I did not get the fair treatment or consideration that I thought was appropriate. I know what that feels like.
"It is our duty to uphold the rule of law and to ensure that due process for every litigant who comes before the court no matter what the background or race or religion," he said.
Schroeder was one of four federal judge nominees appearing before the committee. None appeared to be controversial.
Their expected rapid confirmation in the next few weeks is in marked contrast to a bitter fight being waged between the Bush administration and congressional Democrats over other judicial appointments.
The hearing was adjourned twice as Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., the only senator questioning the nominees, left to vote on the appointment of Judge Leslie Southwick to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., claimed Southwick had "an appalling record on civil rights and the rights of employees who challenge corporate abuses."
After Southwick won Senate approval by a 59-38 vote, President Bush issued a statement saying "many of America's federal courts continue to have unnecessary vacancies" and he called on the Senate to "promptly provide these nominees fair up or down votes."
While Whitehouse said the four nominees before the committee Wednesday had "exemplary qualifications," he charged that too many Bush nominees were "Trojan horses" who would bring their political and philosophical beliefs into the courtrooms.
Schroeder was introduced at the hearing by both North Carolina senators - Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr -- as one of the state's leading attorneys.
One of Schroeder's most prominent cases was successfully defending R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. in a suit brought by the Johns Manville Trust on behalf of hundreds of thousands of smokers.
"Tom has been at the forefront of some of the largest litigation cases in North Carolina and the country," Dole told the committee. "He has handled cases with millions and even billions at stake for his clients."
In addition, she said, Schroeder has offered free legal services to Hurricane Katrina victims who had trouble proving clear title to their damaged or destroyed homes.
Schroeder also has volunteered to work with first-time offender youths, Dole said, and to assist in prosecuting sexual abuse cases involving minors.
Burr said Schroeder played trumpet in the Winston-Salem orchestra while in high school, but gave up a promising music career to go into law.
"Simply put, Tom Schroeder is a good man," Burr said.
Attending the hearing were Schroeder's wife, Kem, also an attorney and president of the Winston-Salem Children's Museum, their daughter Katie, 17, and son Cy, 15.