Frank Lautenberg: “the Constitution grants the Senate the power and responsibility to advise and consent on the President's judicial…”

“the Constitution grants the Senate the power and responsibility to advise and consent on the President's judicial nominations. And there is no more important judicial nomination than Chief Justice of the United States. The President and Congress share responsibility for the makeup of the third branch. The President nominates a candidate to be a Federal judge, and the Senate is required to give its advice and consent for that nominee to be placed on the bench. It is a shared function; the Senate is not merely a rubber stamp for a President's nominee. To evaluate a nominee, Congress must be informed about that nominee. We are not supposed to consent first and be informed later. In the case of Judge Roberts, we cannot make an informed judgment because he was so evasive at his hearing. During his confirmation hearing, Judge Roberts declined to answer questions more than 90 times. The Senate and the American people deserve to know more about an individual who will lead our Nation's judiciary for decades to come. Despite numerous efforts by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Bush administration was not forthcoming. Not a single document from the years when Roberts was deputy Solicitor General was made available. To be deprived of important information left me unable to give informed consent. The Constitution requires the Senate to advise and consent on these lifetime appointments, not to consent first and advise later.…”