Vermont Supreme Court Welcomes Two New Appointees
Governor Phil Scott has announced two significant appointments to the Vermont Supreme Court. Christina Nolan, a former U.S. attorney, and Michael Drescher, who also served as acting U.S. attorney for the state, have been selected to join the high court. These appointments are now pending confirmation by the Vermont Senate.
Nolan and Drescher are set to fill the vacancies left by the retirements of Justice William Cohen and Justice Karen Carroll. Nolan previously served as the U.S. attorney for Vermont from 2017 to 2021 under President Donald Trump’s administration. Drescher took on the acting U.S. attorney role during Trump’s second term.
Governor Scott expressed confidence in their capabilities, stating, “These appointments are important to maintain the trust of Vermonters in a fair and independent legal system.”
Background of Christina Nolan
Christina Nolan, hailing from Burlington, transitioned to private practice with the firm Sheehey Furlong and Behm after her tenure as U.S. attorney. In 2022, she made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate, losing in the Republican primary. Nolan started her career with the U.S. attorney’s office in Vermont in 2010 and was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the top federal prosecutor for the state in 2017.
Nolan remarked on her appointment, “This is an opportunity like no other to continue to make a positive difference in the lives of Vermonters and to uphold the rule of the law and the Constitution.”
Michael Drescher’s Legal Career
Michael Drescher, from Hinesburg, boasts over two decades of service as a federal prosecutor in Vermont. He assumed the role of acting U.S. attorney following Trump’s inauguration. Drescher’s tenure saw him enforcing Justice Department policies and introducing federal charges carrying the death penalty for the first time in years within the state.
Despite serving as acting U.S. attorney, his name was not advanced for permanent confirmation by Trump. The U.S. Department of Justice currently lists the Vermont U.S. attorney position as vacant.
Upon his Supreme Court appointment, Drescher stated, “I pledge to help lead a court system in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect, justice is administered fairly and efficiently, and individual rights are protected.”
The appointments of Nolan and Drescher were recommended by the Judicial Nominating Board, ensuring they were well-qualified for the positions.
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