Charles T. Canady: “I am not going to oppose the gentleman's amendment although I believe that there is a problem with the current system…”

“I am not going to oppose the gentleman's amendment although I believe that there is a problem with the current system that needs to be rectified. Under the current system in many cases I believe that litigants who have a reasonable basis for believing that they are not going to be treated fairly by a particular judge do not really have any realistic recourse to have the case moved to be considered by another judge. I do not think the current system is working. I am not going to oppose this amendment at this time because the version of preemptory challenge to judges that is contained in the bill is a much truncated version of my original bill which I introduced, which followed in a tradition that was started by Representative Drinan many Congresses ago when he introduced a bill to allow for preemptory challenges of judges in criminal cases. It is my belief that we should have a provision that covers criminal cases, civil cases in districts throughout the country.”