Senate Proceeding on Aug 6th, 2009 :: 1:48:45 to 1:59:05
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1:48:43 to 1:49:03( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: i see senator lincoln on the floor. one of my distinguished colleagues, and i yield to her. mrs. lincoln: thank you, mr. chairman. madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from arkansas. mrs. lincoln: thank you, madam president. i thank the chairman of the judiciary committee. he is a good and trusted friend and i appreci

1:48:45 to 1:59:05( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Blanche Lincoln

1:49:04 to 1:49:25( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: work that he and all of our colleagues on the judiciary committee have -- all of the efforts that they have put into this nomination and -- and hearing process. madam president, i rise today to discuss one of the most -- what i t consequential and long-lasting decisions in the duties that a

1:49:26 to 1:49:46( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: u.s. senator can perform under the constitution. the confirmation of a u.s. supreme court justice. it is a rare practice. so rare, in fact, that my consideration of the nominatn of judge sonia sotomayor will mark only the third supreme court nomination that i will have considered since i was first elected to the u.s. senate

1:49:47 to 1:50:08( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: in 1998. even though the president today making this supreme court nomination has changed from the previous two mo nominees, as the chairman of the judiciary committee has mentioned, my standard and the standard of any of us for evaluating a nominee have not changed nor should they have changed.

1:50:09 to 1:50:29( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: i believe the people of arkansas, our great state, and certainly our nation, deserve a supreme court justice who is able to interpret and apply the rule of law fairly without political favor or bias. ensuring that a nominee meets this standard is that i have sworn to uphold as a united states senator and more

1:50:30 to 1:50:50( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: overis the standard that i expect for a lifetime appointment to our nation's highest court. in making my decision about judge sotomayor, i have taken a number of factors into account, as i evaluate her qualifications for serving on our nation's highest court. first among these are the

1:50:51 to 1:51:11( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: opinions of m my home state of arkansas including those in the legal community. i've heard from a number of arkansans who have expressed strong support for judge sotomayor, emphasizing her unique background, impressive resume, and solid judicial record. i also gained a lot of insight

1:51:12 to 1:51:32( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: when we met at length in june. i was able to learn firsthand about who she is as a person, her temperment and her unique life experiences, all of which believe will help give ability in every litigant who comes before the s fair shake.

1:51:33 to 1:51:53( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: arkansans can readily identify with her because judge sotomayor is no stranger to hard work. she was born in new york and i the daughter of parents who came to the u.s. from puerto rico. after her father died when she was young, judge sotomayor was raised by her mother, a nurse. a hard-working woman with tremendous values.

1:51:54 to 1:52:14( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: she went on to become valedi and a member of phi beta kappa and edito edito she has served as a district attorney and in private practice before serving for 17 years as a

1:52:15 to 1:52:35( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: federal judge. she has a long history, madam president, and, again,ne that starts with hard work and dedication to hard work. arkansas is known for its ability to grow self-made americans and those are americans that are no strangers to hard work and they understand what is involved in putting into

1:52:36 to 1:52:56( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: who you are and what you are trying to become and what it is that you want to achieve on behalf of others. judge sotomayor even told me in our personal meeting that she had entered her practice in real estate and business law she had a great appreciation business and the industries of

1:52:57 to 1:53:17( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: this great country and she wanted to increase her of corporate law and broaden her experience. moreover, madam president, i was impressed during our meeting with her eagerness to learn more about arkansas and her attentiveness to what

1:53:18 to 1:53:39( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: were more important to my constituency in my home state of arkansas. the senate judiciary opportunity to learn about her record and judicial philosophy. i was able to monitor the hearings an watch her performance under intense scrutiny and pressure. and i was impressed with her knowledge, her composure, and her candor. given the weight of this decision, madam president, and

1:53:40 to 1:54:00( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: the responsibilities i have to my constituents in my country, i've carefully exam independent the information -- examined information about judge sotomayor's nomination and i will support judge sotomayor to the united states supreme court. i have confidence, madam president, as she made clear through the committee hearings

1:54:01 to 1:54:21( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: that she understands a judge's obligation is first and foremost a fidelity to the law. as -- just as the chair the judiciary committee mentioned earlier, i was raised as a add individual duck duck hunter and gun owner.

1:54:22 to 1:54:43( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: i was pleased to hear that judge sotomayor made a promise before the senate judiciary committee to have an open mind on the issue of the secon amendment and to understand what it means in terms of our-our rights as american citizens -- our rights as american citizens. in response to questions, judge

1:54:44 to 1:55:06( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: sotomayor expressed caution on how she would rule on an unsettled constitutional issue likely to come before the supreme court before hearing the arguments and studying the opinions before her. i would have been concerned about a nominee who had already made up their mind about an unsettled legal issue that is likely to come before the her responsibility is to not

1:55:07 to 1:55:27( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: come in there prejudging or predetermined in her decisions, but to come to the court with an open mind. based on her substantial record serving in two courts, i'm satisfied that or will give future cases involving the second amendment and the rights of americans to own firearms for recreation and self-protection a very fair

1:55:28 to 1:55:49( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: hearing. madam president, i'm also satisfied that her past rulings on these issues follows precedent -- previous precedent and falls within the judicial mainstream. overall i -- and i think senator sessions mentioned some of that in his -- his comments in terms of being judicial mainstream. overall, i appreciated judge

1:55:50 to 1:56:12( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: sotomayor's approach to the judiciary hearings and her willingness to respond to questions from both senators on both sides of important topics. based on her answe president, i believe that judge sotomayor cares more about following the law and maintaing the respect for the judiciary than she does about

1:56:13 to 1:56:33( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: politics and ideology. as judge sotomayor stated, the task of a judge is not to make law. it is to apply the law. finally, i have gained, again, searched my conscience an reflected on my principles as a senator for the people of the great state of arkansas using my

1:56:34 to 1:56:55( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: experiences whether it's being a legislator here in the creation of law, both here and in the house of representatives, but also as a farmer's daughter. my experience as a wife, a mother, a neighbor to evaluate a decision of such great weight. it has become apparent to me that judge sotomayor does meet the test to serve in our nation's highest court.

1:56:56 to 1:57:16( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: i base this conclusion, madam president, on the respect and those in my home state, colleagues on both sides of the aisle who know her well, on the evidence in the record from her own comments and those of her colleagues that she h had an abiding respect for the court's decisions, and that she

1:57:17 to 1:57:37( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: un continuity in our law. we also see the support from industry representatives like the amber of commerce as well as labor organizations. the s received a letter of support for judge sotomayor's nomination from the united states chamber of commerce, the world's largest

1:57:38 to 1:57:59( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: business federation representing businesses and organizations of every size, sector,nd region. the u.s. chamber wrote in their letter -- pursuant to our longstanding endorsement policy, the chamber evaluated judge sotomayor's record from the standpoint of legal scholar ship, judicial temperment and an understanding of business and economic issues.

1:58:00 to 1:58:20( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: based on the chamber's record, judge sotomayor is well qualified to serve as an associate justice of the united states supreme court. her extensive experience both as a commercial litigator and as a trial judge would provide the u.s. supreme court with a much-needed perspective on the issues that business litigants face.

1:58:21 to 1:58:41( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: consistent with her senate testimony the chamber expects judge sotomayor to engage in fair and even-handed application of the laws affecting america's business. madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the letter to senate judiciary committee from the chamber of commerce be placed in the record. the presiding officer: without

1:58:42 to 1:59:02( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: objection. mrs. lincoln: madam president, i do believe that judg sotomayor will make an excellent supreme court justice. and i will give all who come and she will also give who come before the court on which she is poised to serve a fair hearing and the attention and respect that they deserve. so in this

1:59:03 to 1:59:05( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: decision that each of us as senators must make, i am proud