Patrick Leahy

There is nothing more important to returning our country to economic health than getting the innovation system working again.

Federal judges across the country, and particularly in California, are carrying a large caseload, backlogs...

I think that's something that is very important to me and we'll ask about it.

It is what is going to create jobs, it is what is going to create the future in our country.

If you are confirmed, as I fully expect you will be, will you work with us members, both Republicans and Democrats, work with us on trying to resolve the final issues in the patent reform legislation?

Send us the best. That is all we want. Send us the best.

The courts are--and they were set up this way by the founders of the country--they are the one undemocratic part of our government.

Jeffrey Viken's wide-ranging experience makes him particularly qualified to serve as a judge.

We tried very hard to have judges looked at as judges and to get out of partisan politics.

Judge Martin is the fourth of President Obama's circuit court nominees to come before the Committee.

I do not know whether to give him congratulations or condolences, because it is going to be one of the toughest jobs in the government.

There is absolutely no excuse for not having moved yet.

I believe the Senate has to do better.

This nominee of a Republican has been blocked by the Republican side.

Her nomination to the circuit court is rated unanimously well qualified by the ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary.

I think we have to make it permanent if we want it to work, and most of us want it to work.

One of the frustrating things for investors is that it has been reauthorized on a temporary basis, currently set to expire in September.

It has been responsible for the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars. It has created tens of thousands of jobs in American communities since 1993.

Senator Patrick Leahy and Senator Judd Gregg were instrumental in securing this support.

The American people finally have heard from Judge Sotomayor, and I appreciate your opening statement yesterday.

There's not one law for one color or another. There is not one law for rich and a different one for poor. There's only one law.

There is not one law for one color and another. There's not one law for rich and a different one for poor. There is only one law.

I implore this Committee to pass this legislation for those who are vulnerable.

I think it's important for the Federal Government to speak to this issue as a priority.

Probably 90-plus percent of criminal prosecutions in America are done by our States and local governments. They do a pretty good job.