Patrick Leahy: “yesterday the Judiciary Committee conducted confirmation hearings that included the President's nomination of John…”

“yesterday the Judiciary Committee conducted confirmation hearings that included the President's nomination of John Gillis to direct the Office for Victims of Crime at the Department of Justice. These hearings had been scheduled long before the tragic events of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. This was the first hearing of the committee since the terrorism Tuesday morning that prompted the postponement of hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mr. Gillis had come from California before air traffic was suspended on Tuesday. Also included in the hearing were judicial nominees from New York-Connecticut and Mississippi who were able to drive to Washington in order to participate in the hearing. I thank Senator McConnell for serving as the Ranking Republican. Mr. Gillis described his background in law enforcement as a police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department and his work with the New York Port Authority. We also heard first hand of the tragic loss of his daughter and of his work on behalf of homicide victims and other victims of crime. We discussed the outstanding staff of the Office for Victims of Crime, the important work in which they are engaged, and the incredible challenges that Mr. Gillis and that office will face.”