Political Quotes

“I rise to express my strong support for the nomination of Michael Shea to serve as the next Federal district court judge for the District of Connecticut. As the Presiding Officer heard--and I did as well--Chairman Leahy and Senator Grassley expressed very different analyses of the pace at which this Senate is confirming judicial nominations of President Obama, but I note, with gratitude, that both of them expressed support for this particular judge, Michael Shea, and it gives me confidence that he will receive the confirmation vote today that he deserves. I suppose, because I am at the end of the privilege of serving as a Senator for 24 years, I am looking back at various opportunities and experiences I have had. It strikes me at this moment that I should say what I am sure is felt by all of my colleagues; that is, while it is often said of Presidents of the United States that the most important decisions they make are the people they put on the Federal bench, particularly Justices of the Supreme Court because those Justices and judges serve long after a President has left office and continue to affect the course of our country of justice under law, the same really can be said with regard to Senators and the role we play in proposing nominees for the Federal district courts in our States.…”