Ben Cardin: “first let me thank my friends, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs.…”

“first let me thank my friends, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), for bringing forward this legislation that honors Judge Watts. I can think of no person more appropriate to be honored than Judge Watts. He was my friend. He was my mentor. As my colleagues have pointed out, yes, he was responsible for breaking many barriers. He was an outstanding jurist. He was a colleague of my father on the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City and a close friend of my father and our family. I remember sharing many dinners together with Judge Watts and his family. He was an extraordinary individual. But I think his greatest accomplishment was the way that Judge Watts was able to bring communities and people together. He could mediate problems in a neighborhood. He could mediate problems in a city. He could mediate problems in our State. He was called upon by governors, by legislators, by jurists, by attorneys to help bring his wisdom to improve our community. And as the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) pointed out, he never turned down a request, serving on 14 boards at one time.”