I don't want this moment to go by without acknowledging what you all have accomplished. It has been just short of extraordinary.

Particularly in this economic climate, bureaucratic delays that may threaten a mariner's ability to work are completely unacceptable.

That is very significant because basically what you are saying is in those urgent situations, first of all, you try to prevent them;

I am going to put in the record, on behalf of Ms. Robinson, a letter from the Baltimore Police Department, the police commissioner, in support of the nomination.

the statement from Hon. Paul Ryan, a Member of Congress from Wisconsin, in support of Ms. Jackson's nomination to the Sentencing Commission.

Drug courts are working well in some states. Other states need help.

Well, thank you and we appreciate both of you introducing your families.

It is a tough decision to remove a colleague and it was the right decision.

Thank you for your willingness to serve your community.

The confirmation hearing is part of the process.

You would hardly expect anything differently. You wouldn't want a judge to be any different.

I want to thank both Senator Hagan and Senator Burr not only for their testimony here today and their introductions, but the manner in which these nominees have been brought forward.

As a lawyer, I offered and provided a number of pro bono hours.

I want to talk a little bit about diversity and how important it is to have diversity on our bench.

Does empathy have any role to play here?

It is an honor to have Judge Barbara Keenan here, who is a nominee for the U.S. Circuit Court for the Fourth Circuit.

We treat the confirmation hearings very seriously and the confirmation process very seriously.

I particularly want to thank Senator Sessions for accommodating the fact that we could take two appellate court judges in one hearing, because that is unusual.