WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today praised President Obama’s nomination of Paula Xinis to fill the vacancy on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Southern Division, located in Greenbelt.

“Paula Xinis will make an excellent addition to the federal bench in Greenbelt,” said Senator Cardin. “She is exceptionally well qualified and has a strong appreciation for the rights and responsibilities of each branch of government, having clerked in the Fourth Circuit and served as a Federal Public Defender. She has experience in the private sector at a law firm, serving as lead trial counsel on a wide variety of complex federal, state, civil and criminal matters. With roots in Prince George’s County, Ms. Xinis has given back to our community and the legal profession by teaching both law students and practitioners, as well as providing pro bono legal assistance. I know that she will make all Marylanders proud of her continuing public service.”

“I was proud to recommend Ms. Xinis to President Obama, and am so pleased that she has been nominated to the United States District Court of Maryland,” Senator Mikulski said. “When I consider nominees for the federal bench, I have four criteria: absolute integrity, judicial competence and temperament; a commitment to core constitutional principles, and a history of civic engagement in Maryland. She meets and exceeds these standards. Ms. Xinis possesses the qualities that are needed to make sure the rights of ordinary Americans are protected, and has the experience that will allow her to serve with an open mind and adhere to the rule of law.”

If confirmed, Ms. Xinis will occupy the seat formerly held by Judge Deborah Chasanow who took senior status in October 2014.

MS. PAULA XINIS

Paula Xinis, of University Park, Maryland, currently serves as Senior Trial Attorney at the firm of Murphy Falcon Murphy Ravenell Koch in Baltimore, a position she has held since 2011.  Ms. Xinis received her J.D. in 1997 from Yale Law School and her B.A. with highest honors in 1991 from the University of Virginia.

Prior to her current position, Ms. Xinis served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the District of Maryland for thirteen years.  She also served as the Director of Training and the Research and Writing Staff-Attorney Supervisor while at the Office of the Federal Public Defender.  Upon graduation from law school, she clerked for Judge Diana Motz on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.   

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