He received an Associate of Arts degree in 1991 from Central Florida Community College.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, in 1993 from West Virginia University.

[3] He received a hearing before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee on April 1, 2014.

[5] On June 19, 2014, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed a motion to invoke cloture on the nomination.

On June 23, 2014, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 53–31 vote.