On the recordJanuary 23, 2012
Mr. President, important questions have been raised about Judge Gerrard's willingness to follow established precedent in a reasoned way in death-penalty cases. Too often, the Senate has confirmed nominees who are hostile to the death penalty, and who then abuse their authority and twist the law to block the execution of legally sound capital sentences that have been entered by State courts. In his December 15, 2011, written response to questions posed to him by Senator Sessions, however, Judge Gerrard assured the Senate that he ``would have no difficulty'' in following ``binding precedent'' in capital cases, and that he has ``no personal beliefs that would prevent [him] from enforcing the death penalty.'' I take Judge Gerrard at his word and thus will vote in favor of confirming his nomination to be a United States district judge.
