Thank you, Senator Sessions, and I know that you are busy with a bill on the floor.

Mr. Hughes, when you were a trial attorney for the Justice Department, you were involved in several cases relating to the harbor maintenance tax...

I was always warned that when you are doing well in a court case, do not keep talking.

Those of us who had an opportunity or privilege to practice before any Federal courts have our opinions about what makes a good Federal judge and what makes a bad one.

This is no reflection on you because it is rare that a judicial nominee has really handled everything that can come before the court.

I and the Department are firmly committed to the Whistleblower Protection Act and think that it is a critical role to protecting Federal workers and, indeed, to the operation of our Government.

In my view, the most important quality for a judge to possess is impartiality, respectfulness, respect not just for the parties who appear in the court but also just the respect for the institution of the judiciary, respect for the rule of…

One of the cases the lead counsel in for the SEC involves a fraud action against Sentinel Management Company.

So was that Egan decision based on a court evaluation of the statute as written or precedent in cases that preceded it?

When you look at the caseload that faces the Federal Circuit Court, we talked about some of the things, intellectual property cases I think take up a third of the matters that are involved there.

I sometimes think about people appearing before a Federal judge, some of whom have limited life experience in a courtroom...

Thank you for the opportunity to be here today.

It is a great assignment. Just about everything you can think of falls within the jurisdiction of that Subcommittee.

I believe, Senator, I have the characteristics that I could perform in that manner.

I believe that a good judge is a judge that follows the rule of law so that the parties know what to expect when coming before a judge; that a good judge is also courteous and kind and respectful, shows no bias toward any party; and…

Senator, why do you Senators always pick prosecutors to be judges? You should be more balanced in your approach.

Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, it is an honor to introduce Penny Pritzker, the President's nominee to be Secretary of Commerce.