Melvin Watt: “Let me be sure that the gentleman understands my amendment because I think he has a misconception of my amendment or he…”

“Let me be sure that the gentleman understands my amendment because I think he has a misconception of my amendment or he has a misconception of the law. My amendment only gets the person who is filing the habeas in the courthouse. This is not the standard for determining whether he wins or loses the case. This is the standard for determining whether the court will hear the case. I say to my colleague, ``If you look at page four where I have amended the bill, it says, `An appeal may not be taken to the Court of Appeals unless certain things apply,' and that's where my amendment comes into play. It allows him to take appeal. It doesn't set a different standard for that appeal once it is taken.'' If you look on page 14, it says, ``The District Court shall only consider a claim.'' And then it spells out certain circumstances.”