Orrin Hatch: “Another topic that keeps being brought up again and again is Senator Ashcroft's opposition to Judge Ronnie White. I am…”

“Another topic that keeps being brought up again and again is Senator Ashcroft's opposition to Judge Ronnie White. I am concerned that some of my colleagues continue to denigrate Senator Ashcroft for his involvement in the nomination of Judge Ronnie White. It has been said that Senator Ashcroft distorted Judge White's record and wrongly painted him as pro-criminal and anti-law enforcement. But there were many reasons to vote against confirmation for Judge White. In fact, every Republican in the Senate did so. I have reviewed Judge White's record and several of his dissenting opinions in death penalty cases, and I can understand Senator Ashcroft's opposition to Judge White's nomination to the federal bench. For instance in the Johnson case, the defendant was convicted on four counts of first-degree murder for killing three officers and the wife of the sheriff. Johnson was sentenced to death on all counts. On appeal, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the decision, but Judge White dissented arguing for a new trial based on ineffective assistance of counsel. Judge White thought that Johnson deserved further opportunity to present a defense based on post-traumatic stress disorder. But the majority showed that here was no credible evidence that Johnson suffered from this disorder. Rather, it was clear that defense counsel had fabricated a story that was quickly disproved at trial.”