Chuck Schumer: “I rise to speak on a few matters of importance to us related to the nomination of Miguel Estrada, which is what we are…”

“I rise to speak on a few matters of importance to us related to the nomination of Miguel Estrada, which is what we are now focused on, as well as some of the issues we should be focused on which we are not doing because the majority leader has determined we will continue to debate Estrada. Last week, something happened in the Judiciary Committee that more of our colleagues should know about because a lot of us find this very confounding. First, I have tremendous respect for and, indeed, consider the senior Senator from Utah my friend. I know he cares deeply about the issues and about the Senate. What we are seeing in the Judiciary Committee is going to do some significant harm--I hope not irreparable harm--not only to the Judiciary Committee but to the whole body. Up until last week, when we were moving closer and closer and closer to the edge of violating the rules the Judiciary Committee has worked upon, there were a lot of traditions on our committee. It is an important committee, a committee steeped in great legal tradition. If you look at the pictures on the wall of the various chairs of the committee, it goes long and deep. But we have seen changes, first, in my judgment, when three court of appeals nominees were brought to a hearing at the same time. A court of appeals is an extremely important court. Every judge appointed to that court has a lifetime appointment.”