Patrick Leahy: “it is interesting, I think I heard one of the Republican campaign committees talking about Democrats treating the South…”

“it is interesting, I think I heard one of the Republican campaign committees talking about Democrats treating the South unfairly on judges. Southern States comprise about 25 percent of the States, but 60 of the nominees, about one-third of the nominees, have come from the South. With my colleagues, I have moved to get virtually all of them through. Today we are asked to consider the nomination of William S. Duffey, Jr., to the Northern District of Georgia. The ABA found Mr. Duffey to be well-qualified to be a district court judge. He also has the support of both of his home State Senators. Mr. Duffey is currently serving as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Prior to this Presidential appointment, he was in private practice and served for a number of years under the Office of the Independent Counsel during the 1990s. In this capacity, Mr. Duffey had administrative and general oversight responsibility for investigative activities and staffing in Arkansas. I questioned Mr. Duffey about two speeches he gave about his involvement in the Whitewater investigation. For example, while serving as the United States Attorney in northern Georgia and using the seal of that office, Mr. Duffey recently gave a speech entitled ``Whitewater, White Powder and White Paper'' at a local university. Despite his use of pejorative editorial cartoons, Mr. Duffey claimed that this speech was really about the value of public service.…”