Arlen Specter: “It is especially worthwhile to have Mr. O'Neill confirmed because of the example it sets for people who come to…”

“It is especially worthwhile to have Mr. O'Neill confirmed because of the example it sets for people who come to undertake public service. Mr. O'Neill served on the Judiciary Committee for a protracted period of time. When Senator Hatch was the Chairman, he was special counsel from 1994 to 1996 and general counsel from 1997 to 1998, before he became associate professor of law at George Mason University School of Law; and he served as chief counsel and staff director for the 2 years I served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. I do not need a resume to tell people how competent he is and how public spirited he is and what an outstanding Federal judge he would make. There have been quite a number of situations where people working on the Judiciary Committee have gone on to Federal judgeships. I think it is a very healthy thing to have that as a motivation to come for public service. People have come to serve on the Judiciary Committee, leaving jobs making half a million dollars or more for $100,000. The public service is so important that it is exemplary to give them this recognition to motivate our people to come to take these jobs. One example I would note is Stephen Breyer, who was special counsel and chief counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee back in 1980 for then-Chairman Ted Kennedy. Mr. Breyer was then appointed on the First Circuit and is now on the Supreme Court of the United States.”