Des Moines Sun

Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate President Pro Tempore, delivered remarks in support of Rebecca Taibleson’s nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on October 27, 2025.

Grassley outlined Taibleson’s qualifications, noting her academic background and experience. "Ms. Taibleson is highly qualified. She’ll be serving on the Seventh Circuit. Her resume speaks for itself," Grassley said.

He highlighted that Taibleson attended leading universities and clerked for two U.S. Supreme Court Justices: Justice Scalia and then-Judge Kavanaugh during his tenure at the D.C. Circuit. In addition to private practice, she has spent nearly a decade as a federal prosecutor and currently serves as Appellate Chief for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Grassley described her work combating violent crime and narcotics as well as her membership on the Attorney General’s Review Committee on Capital Cases. He noted her detail in the Solicitor General’s office during the Trump administration, where she prepared briefs and presented oral arguments before the Supreme Court.

Her former Justice Department colleagues commended her leadership and legal acumen in a letter to the Judiciary Committee, according to Grassley: "Her former colleagues in the Justice Department wrote to the Judiciary Committee commending Ms. Taibleson for tackling some of the most difficult legal questions facing the country, and [in] doing so, she did with very thoughtful leadership."

Grassley also pointed to moments when Taibleson acted despite personal risk. He cited her public defense of Justice Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination in 2018: "She chose to stand up and speak the truth even though she knew that she would become embroiled in that public spectacle that the Kavanaugh nomination brought to the country."

He further noted her willingness to handle challenging cases without regard for political pressure while working at the Solicitor General's office.

"Standing up for the rule of law, without fear or favor, is exactly what we should want to see in our federal judges," Grassley stated.

Grassley concluded by urging fellow senators to support Taibleson's confirmation: "Ms. Taibleson will make an outstanding judge, and I know she’ll serve the people of Wisconsin and the Seventh Circuit with distinction."

President Trump nominated Rebecca Taibleson for this seat.