John Cornyn

It is impossible for you to prove a negative.

So this is not a job interview. You have been accused of a crime.

The American people are listening to this, and they will make their decision, and I think you will come out on the right side of that decision.

This has been identified by legal scholars and by judges of all description and orientation as a serious issue that may need to be revisited in the future.

Why in the world would an agency be able to determine their own legal authority?

One of the things that bothers me a little bit is the suggestion that some Americans can participate in the political debates and others should be demonized and be condemned, sort of a guilt by association.

President Bush, by choosing Mr. Burck, is doing exactly what President Clinton did in choosing Bruce Lindsay for that same purpose.

That is irresponsible and outrageous.

I was disappointed to see last night that some of our colleagues are unwilling or unable to conduct themselves in this hearing with regular order.

We ought to respect their judgment as they try to take care of the privacy of people by redacting late into the night.

I find it--I am actually flabbergasted that so many of these things are not controversial whatsoever.

It is ultimately our Government, our responsibility, our authority that provides legitimacy to the Government itself.

The thing that has stuck in my craw for the last 18 years is the dissent written by Chief Justice Rehnquist which takes exception to the majority's decision saying they distorted existing precedent.

I am proud to support your nomination based on my personal knowledge of your skills and your temperament and your character and your fidelity to the rule of law.

The level of disingenuousness and hyperbole even by today's standards is extraordinary.

I am disappointed that, despite his exemplary qualifications and outstanding record, so many of our colleagues across the aisle have announced their opposition even before he was nominated.

I am confident that the Senate will find that Judge Kavanaugh will faithfully and fairly interpret the Constitution and the laws of this great Nation.

The legislature to enact laws, the executive to enforce them, and the judicial branch to settle disputes about the meaning of those laws and the Constitution.

Our Constitution provides for a Federal Government of limited and delegated powers with a Bill of Rights to further protect our individual liberties.

Upholding and enforcing this distinction between legislators and judges was the great project of the late Justice Scalia's career.

In my view, it is not because your opponents do not know enough about you. It is because they do know all they need to know.

It is hard to take it seriously when every single one of our colleagues in the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Democratic side have announced their opposition to this nominee even before today's hearing.

We have rules in the Senate. We have norms for decorum.

This is the first confirmation hearing for a Supreme Court Justice I have seen basically according to mob rule.

It is my pleasure to introduce Elizabeth Darling, who has been nominated to serve, as you have stated, as Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families within the Department of Health and Human Services.