Executive Session

Floor Speech

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Mr. President, I regret that the time has been shrunken as it has.

I want an opportunity to register my full support to confirm an exceptionally well-qualified district jurist--Judge Joseph Greenaway--to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

For more than 13 years, Judge Greenaway has served on U.S. District Court in Newark, NJ.

On the entrance to that courthouse there is an inscription that reads:

The true measure of a democracy is its dispensation of justice.

I take pride in authorship of that quote because I firmly believe it reflects the values on which our Nation was founded--values that must endure throughout our government and legal system.

While serving as a district judge in that building, Judge Greenaway has demonstrated his unyielding commitment to those values--the same values that will make him a success on the Third Circuit court of appeals.

There can be no question that Judge Greenaway is eminently qualified for this position.

Let's take a look at his credentials.

From humble beginnings, Judge Joseph Greenaway became a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Assistant U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Chief of the Narcotics Division, U.S. District Court Judge for New Jersey, was confirmed by the Senate in 1996, presided over more than 4,000 cases, was rated unanimously well-qualified by the ABA and his nomination to the Third Circuit passed unanimously by Senate Judiciary Committee.

On top of his outstanding experience and intellect, there has never been a question about Judge Greenaway's ability, character, or commitment to the community. We are so fortunate that we have this outstanding individual.

Throughout his career, despite his critical bench responsibilities, Judge Greenaway has always found time to help others aspiring to preserve our just society's obligations--by teaching criminal trial practice classes at Cardozo Law School and courses about the Supreme Court there and at Columbia University.

And he has received numerous honors and awards recognizing his work. Among them: Thurgood Marshall College Fund Award of Excellence; Garden State Bar Association Distinguished Jurist Award; Chair Emeritus of the Columbia College Black Alumni Council.

In fact, the only question surrounding Judge Greenaway's confirmation is this: What took so long to move him along to this very busy appeals court?

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. KAUFMAN). The time of the majority has expired.

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for Senator MENENDEZ to be able to have 3 minutes also. I ask for an additional 6 minutes for the Senators from New Jersey, which is considerably more than I had.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. LAUTENBERG. I will just take a couple of more minutes.

While I welcome a vote that will establish confidence in Judge Greenaway's ability to serve our country, today's vote comes 4 months after his nomination came to the floor of the U.S. Senate because of unnecessary and unreasonable delays.

Not one of my Republican colleagues has voiced a single objection to Judge Greenaway along the way or a single reason for this delay.

Judge Greenaway and the people of New Jersey are not alone in falling victim to this obstruction.

Republican obstructionism last year led to the lowest number of judicial confirmations in more than 50 years.

Justice has been delayed while those who refused to let this vote take place had another agenda--purely to score political points. It is shameful and the American people show discouragement.

I hope today's vote signals a break in the profuse presence of obstructionism and will permit us to do our work for the American people in a more timely fashion.

If they have objections based on character or ability, tell the American people that. Don't hide behind a cloak of procedure.

The ABA found Judge Greenaway unanimously well-qualified and the Senate Judiciary Committee was unanimous in supporting this nomination.

Today, I urge all my colleagues to once again unanimously support the confirmation of this brilliant legal scholar, Judge Joseph Greenaway, to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

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