Orrin Hatch: “The Senator really raises the issue--that is why there is a double standard--when all of these great Supreme Court…”

“The Senator really raises the issue--that is why there is a double standard--when all of these great Supreme Court Justices and others never had a day of judicial experience. I will submit Miguel Estrada has had more time in the judiciary than any of them had before they came to the court because not only has he argued before the Supreme Court, he was a clerk at the Supreme Court. He knows how the Court works. He knows how it moves, thinks, and breathes. Yet he is being mistreated here. Why the double standard? I can only think of one, and that is, they don't like what they think his philosophy is. They don't like the fact that a Republican President has supported him and has nominated him. They don't like the fact that he is a Hispanic conservative Republican. They are afraid that because he is a Hispanic conservative Republican, he might upset the balance on this court. And on this court, over 90 percent of the cases are unanimously decided. I can tell you, all of their fears are unjustified. They are incredible the way they are being made. And they are, most importantly, unfair criticisms--most importantly, unfair. That is what bothers me. Why can't we be fair to this Hispanic nominee who has fought so hard to be part of the American dream and has earned a right? Why can't we be fair to him? What is wrong over here? What is wrong? Not only is he a Hispanic nominee, a Republican, appointed by this President, whom I can see some of my colleagues don't like.”