Executive Session

EXECUTIVE SESSION -- (Senate - January 30, 2006)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, it is time for the debate on the nomination of Judge Alito to end. It is time for the Senate to act on the President's nomination of Samuel Alito to serve as a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

We have had ample time to review this nomination. The Judiciary Committee has conducted a thorough review of Judge Alito's background and qualifications. Senator Specter, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, ensured that all the questions that should be asked of this nominee were asked and answered.

The Judiciary Committee thoroughly reviewed the story of Judge Alito's life and questioned him on a wide range of issues. In the process, Judge Alito demonstrated his ability, intelligence, and his fitness to serve as a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

In almost 3 months of intense scrutiny and over 18 hours of personal testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge Alito provided clear and candid answers to all the questions that were asked.

All Senators have had an opportunity to meet with Judge Alito, to review the opinions he has written, to read the articles he has written in law reviews and other publications, to become familiar--as familiar as anyone can--with his thinking, his judicial philosophy, his past performance as a judge, as a solicitor, as a lawyer in private practice, as a student in law school, and as a fellow judge. Judge Alito has more judicial experience than any Supreme Court nominee in over 70 years.

In my opinion, the most impressive and persuasive testimony at the hearings in the committee came from the panel of judges with whom he served on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. They testified before the committee and discussed the way Judge Alito approached questions before that court, the way he acted during deliberations among other members of the court about the decision that should be reached in each case, and generally the way he went about discharging the enormously important duties he had as a member of that court. And despite differences in politics and viewpoints and backgrounds among some of the judges with him, they were all enthusiastically supporting his confirmation for service on the Supreme Court.

Judge Alito has earned the respect of those who know him best--his colleagues on the Federal courts, as well as his current and former law clerks, and the members of the bar who have appeared before him in court. He is widely respected for his even temperament, his integrity, his sound legal judgment, and his respect and courtesy for others.

I am confident Judge Alito will serve with great distinction as a Justice on the Supreme Court. I think reciting Judge Alito's own words is the best way for me to conclude my remarks. He said:

Fifteen years ago, when I was sworn in as a judge of the Court of Appeals, I took an oath. I put my hand on the Bible, and I swore that I would administer justice without respect to persons, that I would do equal right to the poor and the rich, and that I would carry out my duties under the Constitution and the laws of the United States. And that is what I have tried to do to the very best of my ability for the past 15 years. And if I am confirmed, I pledge to you that that is what I would do on the Supreme Court.

It is time to end this debate. It is time to confirm the President's nomination of Judge Samuel Alito.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

http://thomas.loc.gov/