Prepared Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Ranking Member, Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Hearing regarding the nominations of:
Stephen R. Bough, to be a United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri
Armando Omar Bonilla, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims
Wendy Beetlestone, to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Mark A. Kearney, to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Joseph F. Leeson, Jr., to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Gerald J. Pappert, to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Mr. Chairman,
First, I’d like to congratulate today’s nominees and their families. It’s an important milestone in all of your careers and I welcome you here today.
Although we have these nomination hearings regularly – this is our 11th hearing this year—each one of them is a serious and important event.
All but one of you have been nominated to lifetime positions on the federal bench. When I consider each candidate I look at their legal background and qualifications. I look at how long they’ve been practicing law and what kind of experience they have. But I also consider their temperament, demeanor, and commitment to integrity.
I believe that temperament is just as important as legal qualifications. Our federal judges need to be able to thoughtfully, calmly, and impartially consider each case before them. They need to treat all litigants that come before them with respect and dignity.
Many of the candidates who come before us have been politically active. I have no problem with this and I’ve voted for nominees whose political preferences are far different from mine. But I do believe we can learn a lot about someone’s potential judicial demeanor based on how they’ve treated those who disagree with them politically. Have they been fair and respectful in their political discourse?
I understand political passion. And as the saying goes, “Politics ain’t beanbag.” But the power of our judiciary rests entirely on the people’s confidence in impartiality. We can debate how far is too far in politics. But we can all agree that what may be in bounds in the political arena may not be appropriate for the federal judiciary.
If litigants doubt a judge’s ability to be impartial and treat those in front of him or her with respect, then confidence in our justice system will erode quickly. That concerns me.
During today’s hearing I look forward to engaging in a discussion with each of you. I will ask questions of your backgrounds and qualifications, your legal and judicial philosophies, and of your temperament, demeanor, and commitment to integrity. While it is the President’s job to nominate you, it is the Senate’s job to consider whether to confirm you to a position in our federal judiciary.
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