Chris Coons: “I emphasize how important I think the role is of the Senate Judiciary Committee. As many present know, my predecessor…”

“I emphasize how important I think the role is of the Senate Judiciary Committee. As many present know, my predecessor, now Vice President Biden, is a former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. As my good friend and colleague from the State of Vermont just reminded us, there is a long and important history on the Senate Judiciary Committee that I think bears repeating; that since its formation a century ago, the Senate Judiciary Committee has provided a hearing, a vote or both for every single Supreme Court nominee. The only exceptions being those that went straight to the floor because their confirmations were supported so broadly. I also think there is a second important point, if I could briefly touch on it; that even in those instances where a nominee did not enjoy majority support on the committee, even in those instances just cited by the Senator from Vermont, where a majority of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted against a nomination, that nomination proceeded to the floor of the Senate to ensure that advice and consent--our constitutional duty--could be carried forward.…”