Opening Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
Nominations Hearing
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Last night, I was surprised to see President Trump on Truth Social go after me and Senate Republicans over what we call the “blue slip.”
Now, to people in the Real America – not here in Washington, D.C., an island surrounded by reality – the people in Real America don’t care about what the “blue slip” is, but, in fact, it impacts the district judges who serve their communities and the U.S. Attorneys who ensure law and order is enforced.
I was offended by what the President said, and I’m disappointed that it would result in personal insults.
Now I’d like to welcome everyone to today’s hearing.
Our first panel features Eric Tung, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and Joshua Dunlap, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Then, on panel two, we’ll hear from two district court nominees: Stephen Chad Meredith for the Eastern District of Kentucky and William Mercer for the District of Montana.
Each of the nominees that we’ll be hearing from today are immensely qualified.
To begin, I have the privilege of introducing Mr. Tung.
Mr. Tung completed his college degree at Yale University. He then went to law school at the University of Chicago, where he graduated with high honors and the Order of the Coif distinction.
After law school, Mr. Tung clerked for then-Judge Gorsuch on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
He served in a very distinguished role as a Bristow Fellow in the U.S. Solicitor General’s Office.
Upon completion of that program, he clerked at the U.S. Supreme Court for the legendary Justice Scalia.
After his first Supreme Court clerkship, Mr. Tung went into private practice with the law firm, Munger, Tolles & Olson.
He was there for a couple of years before joining the Department of Justice – first, as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California – and then, as Counsel for the Office of Legal Policy (OLP).
At OLP, Mr. Tung was awarded the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award.
Because a single Supreme Court clerkship was not enough, Mr. Tung went back to the highest court as a law clerk for Justice Gorsuch.
Since then, Mr. Tung has worked at Jones Day in its Los Angeles office – first as an associate and then as a partner. His practice focuses on appeals and constitutional litigation.
And Mr. Tung was appointed as the civil appellate practitioner on California’s Appellate Indigent Defense Oversight Advisory Committee.
At every turn of his legal career, Mr. Tung has not only succeeded, but excelled.
He’s a standout appellate lawyer, and he’s a great choice to serve on the Ninth Circuit.
Likewise, Mr. Dunlap is a stellar appellate advocate; and our district court nominees are also highly qualified.
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