Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Opening statement - Hatch

Using Ms Word to summarize hatch's opening statement:

First, what judges do limits what judicial nominees may discuss. Judges must be impartial and independent. In 1993, President Clinton's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, explained better than I can why nominees cannot answer such questions no matter how they're framed.

Judges, not senators, take the oath of judicial office. Judges, not senators, are bound by the canons of judicial ethics.

Judge Roberts will be a federal judge for many years to come. Different nominees may draw this line a little differently, but they draw the same kind of line protecting their judicial impartiality and independence.

Justice Stephen Breyer drew that line in 1994. Justice Anthony Kennedy drew that line in 1987. Justice Kennedy drew his line, yet we confirmed him by a vote of 97-0.
Justice Ginsburg drew her line, yet we confirmed her by a vote of 96-3.

We must use the judicial rather than a political standard to evaluate Judge Roberts' fitness for the Supreme Court.

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