As was true across the country, the elections held in Iowa this past November were tough on incumbents. In Iowa, however, it was not just legislative and executive candidates that fell at the hands of an angry and confused electorate—three members of the state supreme court also lost their jobs after a controversial and closely [...]
To combat corruption and increase the effectiveness of foreign aid, the United States should require that all of its foreign aid distributions, reconstruction projects, and payments for services abroad go through banking channels—that is, the U.S. government should strive to eliminate cash transactions whenever possible. In U.S. operations in many parts of the developing world, [...]
Good morning, Senator Leahy, Senator Sessions, and the rest of the Judiciary Committee. It is a great honor to be here and to be nominated as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. I am truly humbled by the proceedings today.
I have two obligations here this week. First, of course, I would like [...]
I have reviewed the draft statement that Elena Kagan has proposed submitting to the Senate Judiciary Committee. In this statement, Dean Kagan seeks to educate the Judiciary Committee and the American people to think differently about the enterprise of constitutional interpretation. This is a highly quixotic mission with very little chance of success and tremendous [...]
Mr. President, your counsel has urged you to persuade me to either change the draft opening statement I previously sent to you or withdraw my nomination. I respectfully encourage you to do neither.
Although counsel does not take direct issue with the substance of my draft statement, he believes that my remarks would [...]
On April 30, 2009, after almost twenty years on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice David Hackett Souter announced his retirement. A quiet personality never comfortable in the D.C. spotlight (except, perhaps, during his confirmation hearings), Justice Souter was rarely characterized as a force on the Court. No doubt his legacy will be marked in large part—and perhaps [...]
