You found that it violated the State Equal Protection Clause because it lacked a rationale basis.

Let me ask you this. It's something that all of us in politics know, the authority of the people to make decisions.

It would seem to me that would create uncertainty about who might be liable for what.

We take it seriously. We look forward to supporting most of the President's nominees.

I think--I'm not sure Mr. Ogden's--the Deputy Attorney General's--memorandum titled 'Authorizing Medical Use of Marijuana,' sets a good policy.

I am absolutely convinced, from my experience, that the fact that we have a lot of people in jail for fairly long periods of time has been a factor in--the predominant factor, in my view, in that decline in crime.

I think this is an important office that you're about to be a part of.

I believe that the--and, see, with regard to the fourth circuit, I'm not familiar with their internal statistics, but they do issue a number of opinions and then some of them nonpublished, some of them published.

We just like to see nominees that know when they put on the robe, something special occurs.

With regard to the President's statement on empathy, Justice Sotomayor, when asked about his standard, replied, 'We apply law to facts, we don't apply feelings to facts.' I thought that was what a judge does.

We appreciate this process. It is an important step.

I think the Supreme Court has failed to clarify what it is that is OK and what is not OK or what is permissible and not.

We cannot have everybody in the world come to America and if, while they are in an illegal status, they are convicted of a serious crime, they ought not to be able to expect to stay in the country, I think.

I am pleased to introduce Mr. Abdul Kallon, who's been nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

I agree with you that that disparity is too great and have offered legislation for almost 10 years now to fix it.

I hope you know, and I think you do, that once you assume that role your own personal sense of discipline, responsibility and integrity is what constrains you from abusing the office.

But with the deficit we are facing, I do not think we are likely to see any huge increases.

I don't really wish to get in a tit-for-tat over the confirmations.

You will take the oath to do equal justice to the poor and the rich and to be impartial.

I appreciate all of you that have been nominated. This is, I guess, the one opportunity we have to ask some questions.

I appreciate, I think, a sincere commitment on your part to treat the litigants fairly and objectively and to render a decision based on the law and the facts, and comply with the oath, which is to be impartial.

I think first we have got to understand that our National debt is reaching staggering proportions, and nearly 10 percent of Americans are out of work.

Putting more cooks in the judicial kitchen may add some spice to the stew, but will ultimately ruin the taste.

People lose their rights when the law is unstable.

We do not have that many nominees.