Judicial excellence requires candor before confirmation. We are being asked to give the nominee enormous power.

Bankruptcy is a serious decision that people have to make.

The judicial branch has, in its finest hours, stood firmly on the side of individuals against those who would trample their rights.

Judicial excellence means that a Supreme Court justice must have a sense of the values from which our core of our political- economic system goes. In other words, we should not approve any nominee whose extreme judicial philosophy would undermine rights and liberties relied upon by all Americans.

A nominee [to Supreme Court] must possess the competence, character and temperament to serve on the bench.

Judicial excellence requires candor before confirmation. We are being asked to give the nominee enormous power.

As the guardian of our rights, the Supreme Court makes decisions every year which either protect the individual or leave him at the mercy of more powerful forces in our society.