The Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Thursday to advance the nominations of three nominees to serve as U.S, District Court Judges for Ohio's Northern District.

The nominations of Bridget Meehan Brennan, Charles Esque Fleming and Judge David Augustin Ruiz were advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

Senator Rob Portman congratulated the three nominees.

"These three nominees will serve the Northern District of Ohio with distinction and integrity, and I look forward to their confirmation by the U.S. Senate," Portman said.

Senator Sherrod Brown adds that the swift passage of these nominations is a testament to their qualifications for the position.

"Each of these nominees brings with them not only impressive legal credentials, but also life experiences, empathy and deep commitment to justice," Brown said.

If confirmed, Brennan will become the fifth woman presently on the bench in Ohio's Northern District. She has served as the Acting U.S. Attorney for Ohio's Northern District since January of 2021.

She's held a number of leadership roles since joining the U.S. Attorney General's Office in 2007, such as First Assistant from 2018 to 2021, Chief of the Criminal Division from 2017 to 2018, Chief of the Civil Rights Unit from 2015 to 2017 and Ethics Advisor from 2013 to 2018.

Fleming will be the only African American man currently serving as an active-duty Federal District Court Judge if confirmed. He's served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Ohio in Cleveland since 1991.

He also served as the Investigative and Paralegal Staff Supervisor from 2010 to 2016 and the Cleveland Trial Team Supervisor from 2016 to 2021. 

Judge Ruiz will be the first Latino Federal Judge in Ohio's history if confirmed. He's served as a Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Ohio since 2016.

From 2010 to 2016 he also served as Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District. He also worked as a senior attorney at Calfee Halter & Griswold LLP in Cleveland from 2003 to 2010.