Patrick Leahy

From Judgepedia

Patrick Leahy (b.1940) is a Democratic U.S. Senator and the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Leahy is the senior Senator from Vermont.

Early life and education

A native Vermonter, Leahy graduated from St. Michael's College based in Colchester, Vermont with his Bachelor's degree in 1961 and later graduated from Georgetown Law Center with his Juris Doctor degree in 1964^[1].

Professional career

After law school, Leahy was a State's Attorney for Chittenden County, Vermont from 1966 till his election to the Senate in 1974^[1].

Senate career

Senator Leahy was first elected to the US Senate in 1974. Leahy was re-elected in 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998, and 2004. Leahy will face re-election in 2010^[1].

Senate Judiciary Committee

Leahy was first appointed to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1978. In 1997, Leahy became the ranking Democratic member on the committee. Leahy served as ranking member from 1997 to 2001 and again from 2003 to 2007. Leahy first served as the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2001 to 2003 and was re-appointed as Chairman in 2007 when Democrats regained control of the US Senate^[2].

Leahy has participated in the confirmation hearings for Chief Justices William Rehnquist in 1986 and John Roberts in 2005. Leahy has also participated in the confirmation hearings of Associate Justices Sandra Day O'Connor in 1981, Antonin Scalia in 1986, Robert Bork in 1987, Anthony M. Kennedy in 1988, David Souter in 1990, Clarence Thomas in 1991, Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 1993, Stephen Breyer in 1994, Samuel Alito in 2006, and Sonia Sotomayor in 2009.

Leahy serves on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security^[3].

Senator Leahy is the longest-tenured Democrat member of the Senate Judiciary Committee with 31 years of service. Orrin Hatch of Utah is the longest tenured member with 33 years of service on the committee.

Leahy has issued strong criticism of the GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, claiming that they are dragging their feet with judicial conformations. ^[4]

Notable moments

Alito filibuster attempt

It was reported during the 2006 confirmation hearings of Samuel Alito that Senator Leahy wanted to filibuster the nomination of Samiel Alito. During a 2009 interview on ABC News' This Week, Leahy denied ever supporting a filibuster of Samuel Alito^[5].

However, records show that Leahy was one of 25 senators that voted against suspending debate on Judge Alito. Also voting to filibuster were fellow Senate Judiciary Committee members Dick Durbin, Russ Feingold, Dianne Feinstein, Edward Kennedy, and Chuck Schumer.

The issue of judicial filibusters was a hot topic around Congress during the 2005-2006 Congressional session. This happened when key Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee threatened to filibuster judicial nominees of George W. Bush to the federal appeals courts^[6]. Republicans on the committee accused Democrats of threatening to filibuster judicial nominees in districts that had major case backlogs^[7].

Sotomayor hearings

The confirmation hearings for Sonia Sotomayor were the first Supreme Court confirmation hearings that Leahy has presided over as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Leahy was the lead Democratic member for the confirmation hearings of John Roberts and Samuel Alito.

It was during his questioning of Judge Sotomayor that he asked the then-appeals judge to respond to the "wise latina" remark. Judge Sotomayor responded to the Senator that the use of the remark was to inspire younger people in the legal system to use their life experiences to improve the legal system. Judge Sotomayor acknowledged that the context of her words were misunderstood, but said that no racial or ethnic group has an advantage in sound judging^[8].

Eric Holder oversight hearing

On November 18, 2009, Chairman Leahy questioned United States Attorney General Eric Holder on the issue of having the trial of the self proclaimed mastermind of the 9-11 attacks in New York and about the Justice Department's response to the November 5, 2009 shootings at Fort Hood^[9]

During the hearing, Chairman Leahy expressed concern about the handling of the Fort Hood case, but expressed mild criticism towards the Attorney General and the Justice Department. Chairman Leahy said during his opening statement: "this Committee will conduct appropriate oversight, but we should do so at a time and in a manner that does not interfere with the investigation and prosecution of this case. I am one who believes that we need to determine what mistakes were made, and that we should do all we can to prevent this tragedy from being repeated."^[9]

On the issue of having the mastermind of the 9-11 terrorist attacks tried in New York City, Senator Leahy fully supports the decision by Attorney General Holder on holding a civilian trial. During the hearing, Leahy said: "what we're saying to the world is the U.S. acts out of strength not out of fear"^[10]. Leahy also stated, "if somebody murders Americans...they ought to be prosecuted in America and hopefully convicted in America"^[10]. Leahy feels that prosecutors who will try the case for the Justice Department will have enough evidence to convict the accused terrorists. ^[10].

External links

• Senator Leahy's Official Website
• Chairman Leahy's Biography at the Senate Judiciary Committee
• Senator Leahy on VoteSmart

References