Evan Bayh: “I rise today to speak in favor of the nomination of Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. I joined together with Senator Lugar to…”

“I rise today to speak in favor of the nomination of Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. I joined together with Senator Lugar to recommend Judge Walton Pratt because I know firsthand that she is a highly capable lawyer who understands the limited role of the Federal judiciary. In my view, this process has too often been consumed by ideological conflict and partisan acrimony. This is not, I believe, how the Framers intended us to exercise our responsibility to advise and consent. It was my hope that Judge Tinder's confirmation would serve as an example of the benefits of nominating qualified, non-ideological jurists to the Federal bench. In selecting Tanya Walton Pratt, President Obama has demonstrated that he also appreciates the benefits of this approach. I hope that going forward other Senators will adopt what I call the 'Hoosier approach' of working across party lines to select consensus nominees.”