It has taken politics completely out of our judicial system.

I happen to agree, and that is the model that we follow in Vermont.

I think these types of attacks reveal the misguided notion that Justices and judges owe some allegiance to the President who appointed them or to a political party.

Nobody should demand political allegiance from any judge, whether nominated by a Democrat or by a Republican.

How we are guided by the Constitution, and how that Constitution has served over the years to make our great Nation more inclusive.

As public officials, we owe it to all Americans to be transparent about what we do in our official capacities.

it's the most cost-effective part of the triad.

They realized that we really are different.

As both Chairman and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee during the last several years, I have worked with Senate Republicans to consider judicial nominees well into presidential election years, I have made earnest efforts to make…

Usually, Mr. President, it has been my experience that in 37 years in this Senate, as the second most senior Member here, if a Senator wants to come and attack another Senator, they have the courtesy of giving him notice before they do. I…

how much time do I have remaining? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has 25 seconds.

I have no objection. In fact, I will give a courtesy to the Senator from Iowa that he did not give to me, and I will be happy to yield 1 minute. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered.

I yield to no Member of this body in the fact that I uphold not only the rules but the courtesies of this Senate. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have never cut off a Member of the other party who wished to speak, unlike…

while the distinguished Senator from Michigan is still on the floor--and she has done such commendable work here, as somebody who brought together the Senate Agriculture Committee on a very complex farm bill, and in a record amount of time…

I remain concerned about the high price of gasoline that continues to disproportionately hurt working class families, especially those in rural States like Vermont. In Vermont, the average price of gasoline remains above the national…

Although Senator Grassley is here, he had to step back out for a minute, so we can start.

I considered myself a pretty confident, effective prosecutor, but, boy, I always wanted to make sure that I did not convict the innocent.

we will have a better system as a result.

We want the accurate science. Forensic science is not designed to help one side or the other.

it is important for everybody in the criminal justice system--the judges, the lawyers, detectives--to be properly trained

I feel that we wanted to help exonerate the innocent, but we also wanted to help convict the guilty.

Senator Leahy, who for the last decade or more has been the staunchest advocate of wrongful conviction reform.

I think there is widespread acknowledgment that every forensic laboratory nationwide should be accredited under recognized national standards.

Collectively, law enforcement appreciates that Senator Leahy and his staff recognize that the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders are a critical component of this legislation.

Well, thank you, and I appreciate your willingness to continue working with me and with my staff because we do want something that is going to work for all involved.