Orrin Hatch: “I stood on the Senate floor last week when the debate on Mr. Estrada's nomination entered its third week, and I said…”

“I stood on the Senate floor last week when the debate on Mr. Estrada's nomination entered its third week, and I said that there is a simple solution to the logjam that has become the Senate. It is a straightforward solution that does not require the release of confidential memoranda or questionable claims that Mr. Estrada failed to answer questions before the committee. The solution is for Senators to vote on Mr. Estrada's nomination. Vote for him or vote against him; do what your conscience dictates. Just vote. One reason I believe we are not voting, and the filibuster continues, is because our friends on the other side of the aisle know Mr. Estrada has enough votes to be confirmed to the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. I have mentioned before that Mr. Estrada has a substantial and impressive record, despite the claims to the contrary of some of my Democratic colleagues. One very substantial part of his record consists of the 15 cases he has argued before the United States Supreme Court.”