Joe Lieberman: “I rise to speak in regard to the nomination of Judge Gonzales to be the Attorney General of the United States. Since…”

“I rise to speak in regard to the nomination of Judge Gonzales to be the Attorney General of the United States. Since this is about justice, in reviewing the record on Judge Gonzales and in considering what my own conclusion about it would be, particularly since it was all about justice, I thought I should try to reach a result that seemed just to me. Each of us, in the fullness of our heads and hearts, has to decide what is appropriate. I was reminded of that famous saying from the Bible: Justice, justice shalt thou seek. I remember asking a teacher of mine once why the repeat of the word ``justice,'' and I was told, well, it not only means you should pursue justice but you should pursue it in a just way. I have had that in mind as I have considered this nomination and others over my 16 years in the Senate. Throughout my tenure I have voted on hundreds of Presidential nominations. In each case I have adhered to a broadly deferential standard of review. To me, that seems to be the just process to follow.”