Dianne Feinstein: “If I may just make my quick statement here. On four occasions, the Federal judges of the ninth circuit and the…”

“If I may just make my quick statement here. On four occasions, the Federal judges of the ninth circuit and the practicing lawyers of the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference have voted in opposition to splitting the circuits. The official bar organization of Arizona--as recently as July 14, a few days ago--and the bars of California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada, and the National Federal Bar Association, all have taken positions against the circuit division. No State bar organization to this day has taken a position in favor of circuit division, let alone this division. Now, let me try to begin to summarize here. I believe strongly--and I think the other side knows I do not throw these comments around loosely--that this is really being done for the wrong reasons and in the wrong way. I think some people did not like some of the decisions, specifically in mining and grazing. For some it is being done because they think they will get more judges for their State. I have had Senators tell me that directly. For some, a new courthouse is attractive. The point is, the House of Representatives has passed the very bill, the amendment of which I am carrying here in the Senate. This proposal, notwithstanding anything anyone has said, as a member of the Judiciary Committee for the last 4½ years --there has never, Mr. President, in the time you've been there, there has never been a hearing on this split.”