Orrin Hatch: “First, let's understand the Democratic Hispanic Caucus. They did not allow the Republican Hispanics, the three of them…”

“First, let's understand the Democratic Hispanic Caucus. They did not allow the Republican Hispanics, the three of them in the House of Representatives, to become part of that. So it is clearly a very partisan group. We have a couple of our colleagues in the Chamber from the House of Representatives watching this very carefully, people who have spoken out for the Hispanic community. Secondly, by saying that he does not have any judicial experience, therefore, he doesn't qualify to be on the Federal bench, what does that say to every member of the Hispanic Bar Association, none of whom, really, except current judges, have any judicial experience in the sense of having been judges. It means he is saying they cannot be judges either. What kind of a representative of the Hispanic community would make that kind of a statement, if he really wants to help the Hispanic community? Or is that representative just making partisan remarks, which is what I believe he was doing? The fact is, we have confirmed 26 Clinton judges who have not had judicial experience--26. That is the phoniest argument I have heard yet, and it is a disgrace to argue it in the sense that Hispanics cannot serve on the judiciary if they have not had judicial experience. Now, let's think of one other thing. Miguel Estrada was a law clerk to Amalya Kearse, a Carter appointee, on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. That is judicial experience. He helped write some of the opinions that she made.”