Patrick Leahy: “I have tried, again, to include at hearings judges Senators have asked for in both parties, including the court of…”

“I have tried, again, to include at hearings judges Senators have asked for in both parties, including the court of appeals nominees, including hearings this year. I attempted to comply with the requests of Senators Grassley, Lott, Specter, and Enzi. We did that. One was voted down. I know the Republican leader, who has been my friend for years, was disappointed at the committee vote on the nomination of Judge Charles Pickering. He argued strongly for the judge, as he should. The Senator from Kentucky, Mr. McConnell, argued strongly for him and gave an excellent argument for him before the committee, as did the Senator from Ohio, Mr. DeWine. I tried to afford Judge Pickering--who, incidentally, still has a lifetime tenure as a Federal judge--every courtesy. I extended the time. I had a second hearing. I extended the time for the vote. I was willing to do all that. But I still have to decide how I vote. I remember for a Democratic President and a nominee he very much wanted, I voted against him for some of the same reasons, the exact same reasons, in fact, that I voted against Judge Pickering. He was voted down in the committee--just as Judge Pickering was, and that was the end of it.”