It might be tempting to assume that a federal judicial candidate who had to endure 10 years of false starts to reach the bench must have been controversial or divisive in some way; delayed, perhaps, by partisan opposition over a perceived political slant or concerns over lack of experience.

But the truth is Karen Gren Scholer’s decade-long odyssey to become the first Asian-American federal district judge in Texas is a testament not only to her impeccable qualifications, but to the universal respect she’s earned from her colleagues on both sides of the aisle throughout her decorated career. There’s a reason she also holds the distinction of being the only Texan to be nominated for a federal district court judgeship in two different divisions by different presidential administrations. And it’s no fluke that when she finally was confirmed to the Northern District of Texas bench by the U.S. Senate in March 2018, the vote was unanimous.