Michael Bennet: “I am here tonight to discuss the Supreme Court vacancy caused by Justice Antonin Scalia's death. First, I think it is…”

“I am here tonight to discuss the Supreme Court vacancy caused by Justice Antonin Scalia's death. First, I think it is important to reflect on Justice Scalia's life and profound contribution and influence on the Court and our country. He was one of the longest serving Justices in our Nation's history, and, as far as I can tell, every single day he served, he applied his considerable intellect, integrity, and wit to the work before him. Although I disagreed with many of his decisions, I never doubted his commitment to the rule of law. He was a principled originalist. He was loyal to his country. By all accounts, including moving testimony from his children, he was devoted to his family and to his friends, including to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with whom he often disagreed. Judge Scalia's judicial philosophy was well understood when President Reagan nominated him to the Supreme Court in 1986. Many Senators then opposed his judicial approach, but in an echoing indictment of today's Senate and its partisanship, 30 years ago the U.S. Senate confirmed Justice Scalia 98 to 0--a vote that testifies to Justice Scalia's qualifications and to the integrity of Members of this body who disagreed with his vision of the Constitution but, exercising their constitutional duty, refused to withhold their support for a qualified nominee.…”