"Our former chairman, Senator Hatch. He's given us a definition for a number of years, and that is when a judge allows their personal, political, or other biases to overcome their commitment to the rul..."
"I do think that the scheme you arranged for this hearing is good, the way we have gone forward."
"You said that in your testimony earlier, that 'in Supreme Court parlance, the right is not fundamental.'"
"I think we have a--this is a big issue and I--in your opinion, you said it was settled law."
"It's a problem for people. We ask about abortion. It's not explicitly referred to in the Constitution, but you say that's a fundamental right."
"I believe we have tried to meet our goal. I had a goal at the beginning and people would say this is one of the most fair and effective hearings we have ever had."
"If the decision by Judge Sotomayor becomes law, any city--maybe not Vermont, but any city or State in America could virtually, I believe, fully ban all firearms."
"American people rightly are concerned that on important social issues that are not clearly stated in the Constitution on important legal issues not clearly stated in our law seem to be decided by unel..."
"But I do think, as Justice Roberts said, the best way to end discrimination is quit doing it."
"I think that is something that we should take seriously. That was a valid comment."
"I said I wanted to vote for it, and we did. We extended it for probably longer than we should have."
"The fiat of a government official, though senior in rank and doubtless honorable, cannot displace the judicial obligation to enforce constitutional requirements."
"You think you----"
"We passed the bill and we extended it, and all of us had some angst and worry."
"I think, for the record, a number of significant articles should be in the record."
"I think it was in violation of the rule, in my judgment as a practicing lawyer."
"I think you're calling us to a higher level of discussion on these issues because they go to the core of who we are as Americans."
"If you respect the Constitution, if you clearly respect it, you will enforce it as it is written."
