Senate Proceeding on Jul 22nd, 2009 :: 3:11:15 to 3:17:25
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3:11:11 to 3:11:31( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: congress to sp up to plate and do its part. with that, madam president, thank you and i yield the floor. senator: madam president? the presiding office senator from mississippi. a senator: madam president, with respect to the nomination of judge sonia sotomayor to be an

3:11:15 to 3:17:25( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Thad Cochran

3:11:32 to 3:11:52( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: associate justice on the united states supreme court, i find that i share many of the concerns just expressed by the distinguished senator from arizona, mr. president kyl. mr. cochran: first i want to thank senators leahy and sessions for their handling of

3:11:53 to 3:12:15( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: the hearings, the meetings in the judiciary committee on the subject of the supreme court confirmation of judge sotomayor. their meetings were both informative and respectful. and i traditions of the united states senate.

3:12:16 to 3:12:36( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: both judge sotomayor and the judicial confirmation process were treated with the respect they deserve. the senate's constitutional role to advise and consent on federal judicial nominations is one that all senators take seriously. and

3:12:37 to 3:12:57( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: traditionally shown deference to the president's role in submitting to the senate nominees for the federal judiciary. it's a role shares with the many senators know. if a nominee was qualified by

3:12:58 to 3:13:18( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: education, experience, and judicial temperment, nominee would likely be confirmed by the senate regardless of the political party of the president. but in recent years we've seen that standard dramatically altered. during the administration of

3:13:19 to 3:13:39( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: president george w. bush, for example, several well-qualified nominees from my state for positions in the federal judiciary, including charles pickerring, michael wal wallace, and

3:13:40 to 3:14:00( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: leslie southwick saw their nominations opposed because of their political differences, differences of opinion about politics. for better or for standard for evaluating judicial nominees has r emerged. and has been well documented

3:14:01 to 3:14:21( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: during her con judge sotomayor was confirmed to the united states court of appeals for the second circuit by the senate on october 2, 1998. i voted in favor of her confirmation. however, a nomination to one of

3:14:22 to 3:14:44( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: the federal circuit courts of appeals is not the same as a nomination to the court of resort. the highest court in our land, the united states supreme court. during her recent hearing judge sotomayor was questions regarding statements

3:14:45 to 3:15:05( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: that she h years. in writings and speeches judge sotomayor repeatedly stated that a judge's personal experiences can and will impact judicial outcomes. she has also argued that judges should allow their personal

3:15:06 to 3:15:27( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: sympathies and prejudices to influence their decision making. judicial impartiality asn aspiration that she believes cannot be met in most cases.

3:15:28 to 3:15:48( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: concerns regarding the lack of commitment to the notion of equal justice under the law. judge sotomayor's responses to questions about these comments have failed to alleviate my concerns about whether she apply the law in an even-handed manner.

3:15:49 to 3:16:09( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: it is the responsibility of senate to make certain that those who are confirmed to the supreme court qualified by reason of experience and training, but also that they show to equal justice under the law.

3:16:10 to 3:16:30( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: some of judge sotomayor's statements during the last decade question her fidelity to equal justice. and unlike the federal circuit court where she has served since 1998, a justice on the supreme

3:16:31 to 3:16:51( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: court is by existing legal precedence. if confirmed there would be no higher court to deter judge sotomayor from making decisions that would become the law of the land. for these reasons, madam

3:16:52 to 3:17:10( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: president, i intend to oppose her nomination. i suggest the absence o quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.