Patrick Leahy: “I will speak for a few minutes regarding the debate on Mr. Estrada. The reason I say this, when I came on the floor I…”

“I will speak for a few minutes regarding the debate on Mr. Estrada. The reason I say this, when I came on the floor I heard a great deal of discussion about the Hispanic National Bar Association. I heard from my friends on the other side of the aisle the current president of the Hispanic National Bar Association has led the support of this organization for Mr. Estrada's nomination, which is so. However, it jogged my memory that this morning I received a letter from 15 former presidents of the Hispanic National Bar Association. These 15 take an entirely different position than the current president: 15 well-respected former national leaders of this important bar association. They date back to the founding of it in 1972. They have written to the Senate to oppose this nomination. They wrote to Senator Hatch and they wrote to Senator Frist, as well as to Senator Daschle and myself. I am sure the speakers earlier this morning, when they spoke of the importance of the position of the president of the Hispanic National Bar Association, were probably not aware that but one is in favor of Mr. Estrada and 15 were opposed.”