Jeff Sessions

My understanding is that the Russians have absolutely no vision that nuclear weapons will be eliminated from the world.

I do worry that if we draw our numbers too low, a lot of nations might well consider that they could, with a little investment and a period of years, be a peer-competitor of us with nuclear weapons.

I do not dismiss it lightly. But you are entitled to a fair day to get your side out.

Well, the judges of the court somehow decided to let these wrongdoers go and change established law, is that your testimony?

I think it is a free country.

These are important positions and teams of staffers and lawyers have checked into the backgrounds of the nominees.

The guidelines are a first reference point. They are not binding, however...

I think the kind of experience you bring to the bench is valuable and it should stand you in good stead.

These are important issues. There has been a lot of public policy discussion about these kind of class action lawsuits.

I have had the personal experience to see the damage that criminals can do to human beings and to society.

I think they are grossly unfair to the worker

How would this make him the 'least culpable of people on death row'?

When you said in your sentence--you said he shouldn't have been sentenced--'shouldn't have been convicted', then you said 'he shouldn't have been sentenced to death because sexual sadism is a mitigating factor--clearly, a mitigating…

Well, it is a great legal system we have.

I don't think we should overstate that.

Well, you said "he should never have been convicted" and then went on to say "or if convicted, he never should have been sentenced to death because sexual sadism is clearly a mitigating factor." Can you cite any authority in which sexual…

Looking at the record in light most favorable to Mr. Ross, he never should have been convicted.

A very important distinction, is it not?

Which is consistent with what the competency hearing in the State had found, and consistent with what the appellate courts and the Supreme Court of Connecticut had found.

I just have to tell you, I've seen the transcript and I didn't--not so much--I think it evidenced a lack of a proper understanding of your role in the matter.

I have been a prosecutor and I have seen judges go beyond their proper role in hearings.

Well, you said that there was significant evidence raising questions about his competency. I don't know that there was a scintilla of evidence.

I do not know how anybody in your position could be accepting of this responsibility and proceed in the face of this record to be the proximate cause of this man's death.

I don't think this is a matter that is going to lightly go away, Judge.

I have a strong feeling that our Federal courts have forgotten their role in these cases.