I was so proud to be there, to replace one of the statutes that Alabama had in Statuary Hall with a statue of Helen Keller.

I think it's important for any judge in any position to treat everyone equally, and impartially, and fairly.

I have supported substantial reductions in the crack cocaine penalties and I am working with a number of people to see if we can reach an accord.

I also propose that the rule of law is best preserved by a model of judicial restraint, and that the executive and legislative branches are in the best position to make policy judgments.

the Senate does have a constitutional duty to review these nominees carefully.

It is not right to take my money that I have to pay to be a lawyer and then turn around and give it to some skunk politician that I do not agree with.

I am pleased to see that both nominees have the support of your home state Senators.

There's always people that just think that if we could just legalize all this, the problems would go away. But that's not so.

I think your answer is respectful of the Constitution.

And I do not think justice will be well served if we abandon a rather strong presumption that sentencing should be within the guidelines.

Marijuana is illegal. It is a substance--it is, in our schedule of substances, a Schedule 1--I believe a Schedule 1 illegal drug.

I do not think that the U.S. Senate and, I suspect, the New York legislature have always thoroughly studied the constitutionality of what they pass when they pass it.

So I am not saying any of this is wasted, although I am sure some is not spent well

the Constitution prohibits establishment of a religion, but it guarantees the right to free exercise of religion.

I would not favor reduction of funding for that. In fact, I would think there are many areas that are less priority than the drug courts.

Judicial restraint is intended to assure that decisions are not based upon personal values or preferences but are instead made according to law.

I also appreciate your willingness to examine, Mr. Chairman, the operation and structure of Office of Justice Programs.

empathy is not a legal standard.

Sentencing is such a big deal. You have got a 98 percent conviction rate.

I think one of the biggest difficulties we face in the legal system is confusion over the establishment clause.

I always thought that was pretty commonsensical.

I think the judges that have grown up under it feel real comfortable with it and I think most of them try to follow it whenever possible.

I do not believe that you can, because you feel a law is unjust, look to international sources.

I do not think it is activism that a judge would find a statute that is unconstitutional unconstitutional and if it is unconstitutional, it should not be enforced.

his commitment to the working people, the poor, and to the country as a whole has been shown throughout his life