The role of the court is to apply the law to the facts of the case before it—not to legislate, not to arrogate to itself the executive power, not to hand down advisory opinions on the issues of the day.

Presidents do not stop working in the final year of their term.

People must be confident that a judge's decisions are determined by the law and only the law.

I have selected a nominee who is widely recognized not only as one of America's sharpest legal minds, but someone who brings to his work a spirit of decency, modesty, integrity, evenhandedness and excellence.

We commend both leaders for the progress being made in the Northern Ireland peace process.

We urge the Ministers to move forward with implementation of the agreements.

We have great confidence in the ability of the Cuban people to do extraordinary things.

Justice is not about abstract legal theory, nor some footnote in a dusty casebook.

I'm confident you'll share my conviction that this American is not only eminently qualified to be a Supreme Court Justice, but deserves a fair hearing, and an up-or-down vote.

We believe greater economic activity in the island is going to be good for the Cuban people.

A Justice should possess an independent mind, unimpeachable credentials, and an unquestionable mastery of law.

No one is better suited to immediately serve on the Supreme Court.