Political Quotes

“Madam President, I am pleased the Senate has confirmed the nomination of Albert Diaz of North Carolina to be a U.S. circuit judge for the Fourth Circuit. Judge Diaz is strongly supported by his home State Senators, Senators Hagan and Burr, and he received the highest possible rating of ``well qualified'' from the American Bar Association's rating committee. The process Senators Hagan and Burr used to recommend these nominations to the President--working in a bipartisan fashion with each other and the White House--is a model for how we can improve the judicial selection and confirmation process going forward. I chaired the confirmation hearing for Judge Diaz in December 2009, and in January 2010 the Judiciary Committee unanimously approved his nomination by a 19-0 vote. I am disappointed that it has taken the Senate almost a full year to take final action on this nomination. I take a special interest in the Fourth Circuit, as it includes my home State of Maryland. When President Bush was in office, in May 2008 I chaired the confirmation hearing for Justice Steven Agee, who served on the Virginia Supreme Court and was confirmed to be a U.S. circuit judge for the Fourth Circuit. Since President Obama has taken office, in April 2009 I chaired the confirmation hearing for Judge Andre Davis of Maryland, a Federal district judge in Baltimore, who was confirmed last year to be a judge on the Fourth Circuit.…”