I think that even someone who got into an institution through affirmative action could prove they were qualified by what they accomplished there.

Success is its own reward, but failure is a great teacher too, and not to be feared.

It's not the heart that compels conclusions in cases, it's the law.

Reaching a conclusion has to start with what the parties are arguing, but examining in all situations carefully the facts as they prove them or not prove them, the record as they create it, and then making a decision that is limited to what the law says on the facts before the judge.

In my experience when a friend unloaded about a boyfriend or spouse, the listener soaked up the complaint and remembered it long after the speaker had forgiven the offense.

I am an ordinary person who has been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences. Today is one of those experiences.

When I first became a judge on the district court, I had one lawyer who came to argue before me, and he was looking off to the side as he was talking. I started asking him questions, and all of a sudden he whipped around and looked at me intently. I could see in his eyes that he had finally figured out, "This is no dummy, I'd better pay attention." It is satisfying to see that.