Political Quotes

“I take our advice and consent function very seriously and especially so when it comes to the confirmation of Federal judges who are given lifetime appointments. In our system of Government, with coordinate branches and separation of powers, that is our responsibility in the Senate. But once a Federal judge is confirmed, our role is concluded. I have voted to confirm some judges who rendered decisions with which I strongly disagreed and have voted against a few who have surprised me by turning out to be better judges than I predicted. Whenever I disagreed with a particular ruling in a particular case, after a Federal judge was nominated, examined and confirmed, I have not attacked that judge or tried to influence that judge's consideration of an ongoing matter. If we disagree with the result in a case, we can determine whether the law needs to be amended or new law needs to be enacted. If a judge decides a case incorrectly, the remedy in our system is through judicial appeal. Indeed, the reason the Founders included the protections of a lifetime appointment for Federal judges was to insulate them from politics and political influence.”