Judiciary

May 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) provided the following reaction to President Obama’s announcement today of Judge Sonia Sotomayor as his Supreme Court nominee:

“I commend President Obama for nominating Judge Sonia Sotomayor, an experienced judge with a brilliant legal mind, to the Supreme Court of the United States.

“Judge Sotomayor brings more judicial experience than any justice confirmed in nearly a century. As a prosecutor, a litigator and a trial and appellate judge, she will bring a breadth of experience to our highest court. I also appreciate that she is highly regarded as moderate and a consensus builder, skills that will serve her well on the court.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement in response to President Obama’s announcement that he will nominate Judge Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the Supreme Court, filling the vacancy left by Justice David Souter.

“I welcome the announcement by President Obama of his intent to nominate Judge Sonia Sotomayor to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court. We don’t have openings on the Court very often, so I appreciate the great thought behind this announcement and its promptness, which will give my fellow senators and I ample time to consider Judge Sotomayor’s nomination.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- Senator Robert C. Byrd released the following statement on President Obama's nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court:

“While I do not prejudge any nominee, President Obama has selected someone who appears to be an outstanding Supreme Court nominee in Judge Sonia Sotomayor.”

“Her life story is inspiring, and reminiscent of that of the son of a West Virginia coal miner who, through hard work, determination, and love from family, rose to an honorable position in the United States Senate.

"Sonia Sotomayor’s life is an inspiration to all young people everywhere, and I look forward to carefully reviewing her qualifications as we move forward with the confirmation process.”

Source: Senator Robert C. Byrd

May 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today applauded President Obama’s decision to nominate Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“I applaud President Obama’s decision to nominate Judge Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"The daughter of hard-working parents, Judge Sotomayor rose from New York public housing to become one of the most well-respected judges in the nation.

"Judge Sotomayor will be a tough, fair, and thoughtful addition to our nation’s highest court. She has been nominated to our courts in the past by both Republican and Democratic presidents and confirmed each time by strong bipartisan majorities.

"I hope we will proceed with the same bipartisan approach to this nomination.”    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- "I congratulate President Obama for choosing such a highly qualified woman to sit on the United States Supreme Court.

President Obama has nominated an exemplary and compelling individual who has a history of bipartisan support. She was first nominated to the bench by President George H.W. Bush, and she has been confirmed twice by the U.S. Senate with overwhelming support.

With eight men, one woman and no Hispanics currently sitting on the court, President Obama listened to voices like former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor in recognizing that diversity on the bench is essential.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kit Bond made the following statement Tuesday regarding the President’s announcement of his intent to nominate Judge Sonia Sotomayor to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court:

“I look forward to reviewing Judge Sotomayor's record and learning more from her hearings. Judge Sotomayor once said ‘I don't believe that we should bend the Constitution under any circumstances,’ I agree that is how judges should rule and I will expect her to continue that view."

Source: Senator Kit Bond

May 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) today issued the following statement regarding the President's announcement of his intent to nominate Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court:

"I congratulate Judge Sotomayor on her nomination to serve on the Supreme Court, and I look forward to thoroughly reviewing her record."

Source: Senator Bob Bennett

May 26th, 2009 - WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement regarding the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court:

“It is the Senate’s responsibility to give the president’s Supreme Court nominee both respectful and rigorous scrutiny. The nominee should neither be pre-confirmed nor pre-judged.”

Source: Senator Lamar Alexander

May 26, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson issued the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to serve on the United State Supreme Court:

“Throughout her impressive life and career, Judge Sonia Sotomayor has demonstrated the integrity, leadership and intellect that make her an outstanding nominee to our nation’s highest court. I congratulate President Obama for his selection of Judge Sotomayor, a native New Yorker whose legal mind will undoubtedly benefit our entire judicial system.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- SANTA FE -- New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today praised President Barack Obama’s selection of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace retiring Justice David Souter on the United States Supreme Court.

“The President made an excellent choice in picking Judge Sotomayor, making her the first Hispanic Justice on the US Supreme Court,” said Governor Richardson.

“Her life experience combined with her legal intellect should make Judge Sotomayor an outstanding member of the Court. President Obama should be commended for combining diversity and impeccable legal credentials in his selection."

Source: New Mexico Governor

May 26, 2009 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine issued the following statement on President Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court:

"I am very pleased President Obama has chosen to diversify the court and reflect the multi-cultural heritage of our nation by nominating Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court. The first Hispanic nominee to the high court, Judge Sotomayor claims excellent judicial qualifications, as evidenced by her distinguished tenure on the bench, and superb academic qualifications, that will truly make her an exceptional candidate for our times.    » read more »

March 24, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – President Obama today announced his intent to nominate Marisa J. Demeo and Florence Y. Pan to be Associate Judges in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Demeo currently works as a Magistrate Judge in the Criminal Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia; Pan currently serves as Deputy Chief of the Appellate Section in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

" I am pleased to put forward two nominees who have served the people of the District of Columbia with such distinction," President Obama said. "Marisa Demeo and Florence Pan have dedicated their careers to serving the public good and they will be esteemed and eminent additions to the DC Superior Court."

Marisa Demeo    » read more »

March 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Judge David Hamilton to the United States 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Hamilton has served for 14 years as a federal district judge in Indiana. He was appointed United States District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana in 1994 and was named Chief Judge in January of 2008.

President Obama said, "Judge Hamilton has a long and impressive record of service and a history of handing down fair and judicious decisions. He will be a thoughtful and distinguished addition to the 7th circuit and I am extremely pleased to put him forward to serve the people of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin."    » read more »

March 13, 2009 -- In a filing today with the federal District Court for the District of Columbia, the Department of Justice submitted a new standard for the government’s authority to hold detainees at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.

The definition does not rely on the President’s authority as Commander-in-Chief independent of Congress’s specific authorization. It draws on the international laws of war to inform the statutory authority conferred by Congress. It provides that individuals who supported al Qaeda or the Taliban are detainable only if the support was substantial. And it does not employ the phrase "enemy combatant."    » read more »

Mar 6, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe today announced his intent to grant 12 pardons. An additional 13 clemency requests were denied and 27 had no action taken upon them. These include requests from both inmates and non-inmates.

The 12 applicants intended for pardons have completed all jail time, fulfilled all parole-and-probationary requirements and paid all fines related to their sentences. There is a 30-day waiting period to receive public feedback on the pardons before final action is taken.

Governor Beebe intends to grant pardons to the following people:

LaJuana Allen Brimley (Little Rock): Theft of Property    » read more »