Senate Proceeding on Aug 6th, 2009 :: 2:27:35 to 2:33:05
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2:27:20 to 2:27:40( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: next justice of the supreme court of the united states. madam president, floor. the presiding officer: the senator mr. voinovich: madam president, i rise today in support of the confirmation of judge sonia sotomayor as

2:27:35 to 2:33:05( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: George Voinovich

2:27:41 to 2:28:01( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: associate justice of the united states supreme court. the role of the senate in the nomination of a supreme court justice is to give and consent on the president's nomination. i believe it has been the long-standing tradition of this bodyhat we are to judge whether an individual is

2:28:02 to 2:28:23( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: qualified to serve based on the complete record of each nominee. once agains i want to compliment senator sessions and senator lay for the excellent job they have done in handling the confirmation hearings for judge sotomayor. the hearings were fair and inabled american people to get a better understanding of what

2:28:24 to 2:28:46( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: sort of justice judge sotomayor will be. equally important, these hearings were conducted with civility allowing senators to disagree without being disgoable. and this is something i would like to see more of in this senate. sadly, as some of my have pointed out, the judicial

2:28:47 to 2:29:07( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: nom nation process has become so partisan that it brings out the worst in the senate where it ought to bring out the best. i believe the factors to be examined in determining whether a supreme court nominee is qualified include her edution, prior legal and judicial experience, and commitment to the rule of law.

2:29:08 to 2:29:29( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: based on my review of her record, and using these factors, i have determined that judge sotomayor meets the criteria to becomeme a justice of the supreme court.( i didn't come to this determination lightly and judge sotomayor has made statements that give me pause. however, after reviewing her

2:29:30 to 2:29:51( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: judicial record and the made during the judiciary committee hearings, on balance, i believe she is fit to serve on our nation's highest kowft. our nation's high -- highest court. i am comforted by her rejection that in then senator obama's view, the critical ingredient is

2:29:52 to 2:30:12( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: supplied by what is in the judge's heart and the depth and breadth of one's empathy. in answer to a que senator kyl, judge sotomayor said "i can think judges should do which is judges can't rely on what's in theireart.

2:30:13 to 2:30:33( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: they don't determine the law. congress makes the laws. the job of a judge is to the law so it is not the heart that compels conclusions in cases, it's the law. the judge applies the law to the

2:30:34 to 2:30:55( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: facts before that judge." of quote from judge sotomayor. in addition to being fit for the bench, the story of judge sotomayor is the story of so many americans who rose from humble beginnings to reach levels of achievement that would not be possible in any other nation. the sort me of what is so unique and

2:30:56 to 2:31:16( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: special about our nation, that a young working-class latina woman or the son of a first-generation eastern european immigrant family can be nominated supreme court or be elected to serve his home state in this great chamber. during our private meetings, judge sotomayor and i were able

2:31:17 to 2:31:37( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: to discuss this opportunity and what struck me who understands what a great opportunity that is. as well as the great c that await her. while the founding fathers may have a disagreement with her on some of her legal views, i think they would be proud that judging individuals on their merit has endured as part of this great

2:31:38 to 2:31:58( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: experiment. as a number of my colleagues have already noted, judge sotomayor, through her hard work, has risen from humble beginnings to now await confirmation to the supreme court. judge sotomayor excelled throughout her academic career,

2:31:59 to 2:32:19( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: from the time at sacrament sch the vam dick attorney of her class, she has excelled in highly competive environments. like justice alito, she is a graduate of princeton university and yale law school. princeton on scholarship and graduated not onlyssume cum

2:32:20 to 2:32:41( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: laude but also of the prestigious pine from that university. sotomayor judge sotomayor went on to yale law school where she erv served as editor of the "yale law journal." she should serve as an inspiration to a meritocracy we a have an opportunity to rise to the top.

2:32:42 to 2:33:02( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: after her stellar academic career, judge the public service as a district attorney in new york where her drive and basic fairness were well-not this commitment to public service impressed me. judge sotomayor not oy succeeded in the public sector, she also worked

2:33:03 to 2:33:05( Edit History Discussion )

George Voinovich: an associate to partner practicing corporate law at a