Political Quotes

“Every judicial nomination that comes before this body is critically important. However, I take a particular interest in appointments to the Fourth Circuit, which includes my home State of North Carolina. The Fourth Circuit needs qualified, fair-minded judges who will put aside their personal views and follow the law. After reviewing his record carefully, I have concluded that Judge Dennis Shedd is not such a judge. While Judge Shedd's record provides numerous reasons to oppose his confirmation, I am most troubled by his poor record on civil rights, where he has demonstrated an alarming propensity for putting his personal views above the law. Judge Shedd has repeatedly overstepped the bounds of judicial restraint and engaged in judicial activism on behalf of defendants in discrimination cases. I raised this concern with Judge Shedd earlier this year during his confirmation hearing before the Judiciary Committee. Judge Shedd could not point to one instance in his eleven years on the bench in which an individual alleging discrimination--based on race, sex, age or disability--has ever won a case in his court. In the same period, there have been over 20 verdicts in favor of plaintiffs in other Federal courts in the State. In written questions, I asked Judge Shedd to say whether a victim of employment discrimination had ever prevailed in his courtroom. He could name no such case.”