Chris Coons: “I rise today to speak in favor of Ms. Patricia Millett's nomination to the DC Circuit Court. As a member of the Senate…”

“I rise today to speak in favor of Ms. Patricia Millett's nomination to the DC Circuit Court. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have the opportunity to closely examine each of the judicial candidates nominated by our President. I did so with Ms. Millett, attending her nomination hearing and speaking to a wide range of the practitioners and colleagues who have direct knowledge of her professionalism and experience. Without exception, at every stage of her career and with every personal and professional colleague with whom she has had work experience, Patty--Ms. Millett-- has distinguished herself as a person of integrity, intelligence, and dedication. She is a person whose capability and devotion to a family is an inspiration to those around her. She is unanimously recommended by former living Solicitors General, and received the ABA's highest rating. Some of my colleagues here have argued that President Obama is trying to ``pack the court'' by nominating Ms. Millett and two other nominees to fill three current vacancies on the DC Circuit Court. These charges of court packing strike me, frankly, as without foundation. Court packing is an historical term used to describe when politicians try to change the size of a court, expand a court, in order to control its expected outcome. That was the cause of the objection to President Roosevelt's plan to add up to six Justices to the U.S. Supreme Court back in 1937.…”