More Hatch on Alito
Sen. Hatch is now saying that because Judge Alito already is a federal judge, he cannot issue advisory opinions. Thus, he cannot speak about how he would decide cases likely to come before the Supreme Court.
Hatch is now referring to the Ruth Bader Ginsburg confirmation hearing in 1993. He says she didn't answer certain questions. He is thus setting up Judge Alito not to have to answer questions about, among other things, abortion.
I don't think it's word-for-word, but Senator Hatch's speech today is very similar to the one he gave at the outset of the confirmation hearing for Chief Justice John Roberts. I remember that, at that time, he pre-defended Roberts and set the stage for Roberts not to have to answer certain questions.
Now Hatch is saying Judge Alito's entire record, not just selective portions of it, must be considered. There are 36,000 pages of material before the Judiciary Committee. "We must apply a judicial, not a political standard, to this record," Hatch says.
Hatch is now referring to the Ruth Bader Ginsburg confirmation hearing in 1993. He says she didn't answer certain questions. He is thus setting up Judge Alito not to have to answer questions about, among other things, abortion.
I don't think it's word-for-word, but Senator Hatch's speech today is very similar to the one he gave at the outset of the confirmation hearing for Chief Justice John Roberts. I remember that, at that time, he pre-defended Roberts and set the stage for Roberts not to have to answer certain questions.
Now Hatch is saying Judge Alito's entire record, not just selective portions of it, must be considered. There are 36,000 pages of material before the Judiciary Committee. "We must apply a judicial, not a political standard, to this record," Hatch says.
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