Chuck Schumer: “I have not come across a nominee to the court of appeals, when given so many extensive questions, who had so few answers…”

“I have not come across a nominee to the court of appeals, when given so many extensive questions, who had so few answers as Miguel Estrada. I don't think there is a double standard. I will quote one. Probably, the nominee of President Clinton that garnered the most controversy-- because my colleagues on the other side thought he was too far out of the mainstream from the left side--happened to be a Hispanic nominee named Richard Paez. As the Senator knows, he was held up for over 1,500 days. Let me read the same question that was asked of Mr. Paez--by the way, these were asked by your colleague, my colleague, our friend, Senator Sessions. Senator Sessions asked him: In your opinion, what is the greatest Supreme Court decision in American history? Did Judge Paez refuse to answer that question, say he could not, as Mr. Estrada did? No. He right away named Brown v. Board of Education. Senator Sessions then asked the same question I asked of Mr. Estrada. He said: What is the worst Supreme Court decision? Again, Paez answered without hesitation, without ducking, without hiding behind some legal subterfuge--which I know my colleague from Montana doesn't like--that it was Dred Scott. So if these questions were fair to ask Judge Paez, why are they not fair to ask Miguel Estrada?”