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PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
TALKING POINTS FOR
FEDERAL JUDGES ASSOCIATION RECEPTION
The East Room
MAY 14, 1997
Acknowledgments: Earl Britt (outgoing President); Alan Nevas [NEH-vuss] (incoming
President); The Honorable Ramon Rodriguez Arribas [ah-REE-bahss], President of the
International Association of Judges.
For fifteen years, the Federal Judges Association has lived up to its motto: "to seek
the highest quality of justice for the people of the United States." It is a goal we share.
From the start, our administration has sought to build a strong judiciary of the most
competent, qualified and diverse jurists in the nation. The American Bar Association has
rated our appointees more qualified than any other Administration's appointments in history.
And I am proud to say we have nomintated more women, African Americans and Hispanics than
ever before. The results are clear: quality and diversity can go hand-in-hand when we do
everything possible to attract our best and brightest to the judiciary.
The Framers of the Constitution knew that the independence of our nation's
judiciary is a measure of its commitment to democracy. They were challenged from all sides
as they laid in place the architecture of our federal judiciary. The lifetime appointment provision
in the Constitution for Article III judges was hotly debated because of the unbounded authority it
granted. In the end, the Framers decided that judicial independence was worth the risk.
Throughout our history, we have upheld the rule of law that they fought for and we must
continue to do so now.
In the past few months, there have been shrill calls from some quarters to alter the
judicial nomination process, and even to impeach sitting judges -- not for "high crimes and
misdemeanors" -- but for their judicial philosophy. We must resist such efforts and get down
to the real work of confirming judges, easing the "crisis of workload" about which Chief Justice
Rehnquist has repeatedly warned. Our system of justice depends on it.
I am happy to say that in recent weeks we have seen some discernible progress: with
29 nominations already sent to the Senate, 2 more on the way this week, and 15-20 in the
pipeline and expected before the July 4th recess, we should have nominees for almost half the
current vacancies in the next 2 months. We salute the leadership of Senator Hatch and Senator
Leahy and many others in moving the process along. I look forward to working together for
further progress.
DRAFT
AFI
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
VIDEO MESSAGE FOR SUMNER REDSTONE
NATL. ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES TRUSTEE'S AWARD
MAY 15th, 1997
Sumner, I want to congratulate you on receiving the trustee's award from the National
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The prestige of this award matches the excellence
that you have demonstrated consistently over the years
as an educator at Harvard Law and
Brandeis University, in leading our telecommunications industry forward, and making
entertainment one of this country's most valuable exports. Your commitment to Viacom, to the
entire industry, and our educational system is XXXX [truly inspiring?]
You have helped revolutionize and democratize education in a way that no one ever has
in the history of this country. Under your chairmanship, the Corporate Commission on
Education Technology is helping us put computers in every classroom, train our teachers,
provide the best educational software available and give all of our students access to unlimited
information.
The partnership you have forged- is one which will not only transform our educational
system but provide a shining example of what government can do with the assistance and
guidance of the business community. Together we are preparing our children for the 21st
Century. Sumner, I am grateful for your hard work and your vision.
I wish I could be with you personally to share in this tribute. Please know that Hilary and
I are thinking of you at the White House and sending you our warmest wishes.
all we can achin when
gou't private bus.
JOIL forces to had
(712) 484-7434 fax 62. prepare our celi
484735
you had your α visu
have
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
TALKING POINTS FOR
FEDERAL JUDGES ASSOCIATION RECECEPTION
The East Room
MAY 14, 1997
Acknowledgments: Earl Britt (outgoing President); Alan Nevas [NEH-vuss] (incoming
President); The Honorable Rodriguez Arribas [ah-REE-bahss] (Title)
For fifteen years, the Federal Judges Association has lived up to its motto: "to seek
the highest quality of justice for the people of the United States." It is a goal we share.
From the start, our administration has sought to build a strong judiciary of the most
competent, qualified and diverse jurists in the nation. I am gratified that more of our
appointees have been rated well qualified by The American Bar Association than any other
Administration in history, while at the same time bringing more women, African Americans and
Hispanics into the process than ever before. The results are clear: quality and diversity can go
hand-in-hand when we do everything possible to attract our best and brightest to the judiciary.
we can
The Framers of the Constitution knew very well that the independence of our
nation's judiciary is a key measure of its commitment to democracy. They were challenged
from all sides as they laid in place the architecture of HOPPY our federal judiciary. The lifetime
appointment provision for Article III judges was heatedly débated because it was the only
of const- Mr
unbounded entitlement to appear in the draft document. In the end, the Framers decided that
judicial independence was worth the risk and now we must contintue to uphold the rule of law
that they fought for and we must Through cartinue hant an to history, we now. have
exphald
Mr
In the past few months, there have been shrill calls from some quarters to alter the
judicial nomination process, and Peven to impeach sitting judges not for "high crimes and
misdemeanors" but for their judicial philosophy I hope this period is behind us 80 that we Need
can get down to the real work of confirming judges and ease the "crisis of workload" about
which Chief Justice Rehnquist has repeatedly warned
our
y stem
of
I am happy to say that in recent weeks we have seen some discernible progress
with
stee
27 pending nominations, 2 more on the way this week, and 15-20 in the pipeline and expected
the
before the July 4th recess, we should have nominees for almost half the current vacancies in the
depends
on
next 2 months. We salute the leadership of Senator Hatch and Senator Leahy and many others in
it
moving the process along and we femal to
This
Carolyn
Draft 5/13/97 5:00pm
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
TALKING POINTS FOR
FEDERAL JUDGES ASSOCIATION RECEPTION
THE EAST ROOM
MAY 14, 1997
Acknowledgments: Earl Britt (outgoing President); Alan Nevas [NEH-vuss] (incoming
bahss].
President); The Honorable Ramon Rodriouez Arribas [rah-MONE rod-DREE gue3 Rez ah-REE-
Paes. line ASSOC. Indger
For fifteen years, the Federal Judges Association has lived up to its motto: "to seek
the highest quality of justice for the people of the United States." It is a goal we share. From
the start, our administration has sought to build a strong judiciary of the most competent jurists
in the nation. Good things about them. The work you do.
nominated
Since I took office, I am proud to say that we have appointed more women, more
African Americans and more Hispanics than any other administration in the history of this
country. am.committed.to-nominatingthe-most-qualified men and women to serve on the
Federal bench. Working together, we must do everything we can to attract our nation's best and
I am committed to norminating the most upon lifie. camel
brightest to the judiciary.
diverse memord C.A.A.
Our founders knew well that the independence of a country's judiciary are a
10 the
measure of its commitment to democracy. The injustices of the Star Chamber, laws written by Fed
those in power to defeat political enemies, and insufficient safeguards for civil liberties were
foremost in the minds of the framers when they laid in place the architecture of our federal
judiciary.
An independent judiciary is just as important today as it was then. That is why we
must do every thing we can.
Confirmation Process: efforts to undermine time honored tradition and make partisan,
the antithesis of what the Framers envisioned
Progress:
In the learned opinions of the Federal judiciary, we can read the history of our country:
from maritime law to antitrust, from criminal procedure to intellectual property
even to the
Laura K. Capps
05/14/97 11:34:40 AM
Record Type:
Record
To:
Douglas J. Band/WHO/EOP
CC:
Subject: pls. read the new sentence in italics.
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
TALKING POINTS FOR
FEDERAL JUDGES ASSOCIATION RECECEPTION
The East Room
MAY 14, 1997
Acknowledgments: Earl Britt (outgoing President); Alan Nevas [NEH-vuss] (incoming
President); The Honorable Romon Rodriguez Arribas [ah-REE-bahss], President of the
International Association of Judges.
For fifteen years, the Federal Judges Association has lived up to its motto: "to
seek the highest quality of justice for the people of the United States." It is a goal we
share.
From the start, our administration has sought to build a strong judiciary of the
most competent, qualified and diverse jurists in the nation. The American Bar Association
has rated our appointees, on the whole, more qualified than in any other Administration in
history. And I am proud to say we have nomintated more women, African Americans and
Hispanics than ever before. The results are clear: quality and diversity can go hand-in-hand
when we do everything possible to attract our best and brightest to the judiciary.
The Framers of the Constitution knew that the independence of our nation's
judiciary is a measure of its commitment to democracy. They were challenged from all
sides as they laid in place the architecture of our federal judiciary. The lifetime appointment
provision for Article III judges was hotly debated because it was the only unbounded grant of such
entitlement to appear in the draft document of the Constitution. In the end, the Framers unbounded
decided that judicial independence was worth the risk. Throughout our history, we have
anturity
upheld the rule of law that they fought for and we must continue to do so now.
In the past few months, there have been shrill calls from some quarters to alter the
judicial nomination process, and even to impeach sitting judges -- not for "high crimes
closed press.
TALKING POINTS FOR THE PRESIDENT'S WELCOMING REMARKS TO THE FEDERAL
JUDGES ASSOCIATION
MAY 14, 1997
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: PRES. EARL BRITT; (outgoing) neh-
The Federal Judges Association is a voluntary association of active, senior status and retired
PRES. ALAN NEVAS vess
judges of the U.S. Federal Courts. It has 748 members. PRES., INT'L JUDGES ASSOC.
The Honorable Ramon
2.
The 1997). Federal Judges Association is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary tomorrow (May 15, Radriguez
Arribas,
3.
In many ways, the Association's anniversary comes at a significant juncture for all of us
in other branches of government -- because it reminds us, as we get caught up in the windy
rhetoric now surrounding judicial nominations, of the Association's mission
statement: "to seek the highest quality of justice for the people of the United States."
To do that, each of us needs to do our part to help the judiciary continue to attract and
retain the best qualified men and women for judicial service and to protect the
independence of the judiciary from intimidation in any fashion.
4.
Your work -- and the contribution it makes to the history and the direction of our nation --
stretches far beyond the learned opinions that shape our jurisprudence on every subject,
from maritime law to antitrust, from criminal procedure to, even, the Rule in Shelly's case (!).
-- Equally important is how each of you -- and collectively, all of you -- serve as role
models for all our citizens -- but most significantly our youth -- by instilling respect for
that most valued tradition in our democracy, the rule of law.
5.
Yes, most assuredly, we are the world's "oldest" constitutional democracy; but the debate
over the core precepts that underlie the architecture of our Republic is renewed every
generation. In that sense, our Republic, our Constitution, is forever young.
6.
But because the very concept of judicial independence have been questioned by some in
recent months, it never hurts to remind ourselves of the difficult task facing the Framers of
the Constitution in gathering support for a truly independent judiciary.
-- Of all the many impositions experienced by the colonies, none was more despised or
damaging than the arbitrariness with which the law was applied.
-- While the nature of the colonists' discontent was clear, the solution for the
emerging Republic was not. For fashioning a system to establish the rule of law was
not without risk.
President William J. Clinton
Talking Points For
Federal Judges Association Reception
The East Room
May 14, 1997
Acknowledgments: Earl Britt (outgoing President); Alan Nevas [NEH-vuss] (incoming
President); The Honorable Ramon Rodriguez Arribas [ah-REE-bahss]
For fifteen years, the Federal Judges Association has lived up to its motto: "to seek
the highest quality of justice for the people of the United States." It is a goal we share.
From the start, our administration has sought to build a strong judiciary of the most competent
jurists in the nation.
I am committed to appointing the most qualified and diverse men and women to the
federal bench. Since I took office, I am proud to say that we have nominated more women,
more African Americans and more Hispanics than any other administration in the history of this
country. More of our appointments have been rated "well qualified" by the American Bar
Association than ever before. Working together, we must do everything we can to attract our
nation's best and brightest to the judiciary.
The Framers knew that the independence of a country's judiciary is a measure of its
commitment to democracy. They were challenged from all sides as they laid in place the
architecture of our federal judiciary. Foremost in their minds were the injustices of the Star
Chamber, biased laws written with political intent, and insufficient safeguards for civil liberties.
We must honor their commitment by continuing our struggle to ensure judicial independence.
We will do so by moving forward and getting down to the real work at hand of
confirming judges. I am happy to say that in recent weeks we have seen some discernible
progress in easing the crisis in the courts: With 29 pending nominations, 2 more on the way this
week, and 15-20 in the pipeline and expected before the July 4th recess, we should have
nominees for almost half the current vacancies in the next 2 months. We salute the leadership of
Senator Hatch and Senator Leahy and many others in moving the process along.
67911
7.
Judicial independence was the key to the rule of law; but how best to ensure it?
-- In the end, the Framers made a grant of a lifetime appointment to all Article III
judges. It was the only time they allowed such an unbounded entitlement to
appear in a document that was supposed to break all bonds with a monarchical
past. But judicial independence was viewed as worth the risk.
8.
For many of you who live outside the Beltway, the recent news and words 5 coming out of
Washington about the judicial nominations process must be astounding.
There are now movements springing up to change the basic nature of the
confirmation process.
(a) req'in maj. vote ofsen. in
district
to
is
($) turning power of nomination
to
corfirm
Judicial activism are now code words for a concept so large and so
seeat. noramite
amorphous -- that every candidate forswears such a future propensity if put on
the bench.
There are even demands for impeachment of "sitting judges" not for "high
crimes and misdemeanors" but for -- of course opinions that smack of
judicial activism.
9.
I am still hopeful that we will leave behind this early period of shrillness and get down to
the real work at hand of confirming judges. There is no other way to ease the "crisis of
workload" which Chief Justice Rehnquist referred to in his annual State of the Judiciary
Report this past January.
06 our romines)
10.
In recent weeks -- I am happy to say we have seen some discernible progress in moving
forward with the confirmation process We salute the leadership of Senator Hatch and Senator
Leahy and many others in this regard.
a)
We hope this pattern continues as we work through the summer and fall of the
First Session of the 105th Congress.
b)
With 29 pending nominations, 2 more on the way this week, and 15-20 in the
pipeline and expected before the July 4th recess, we should have nominees for
almost half the current vacancies in the next 2 months a good start to moving
the process forward to ease the crisis in the courts.
11.
Lastly, I want to make a comment on quality and diversity.
One of the accomplishments of the First Term of which I am most proud is the
fact that we have nominated more minorities and women than any other
#
Administration in a comparable period.
women, hispanies
During the same periods, we have nominated more candidates rated "well
qualified" by the American Bar Association.
-- I think the numbers tell the story: diversity and quality can go hand-in-hand if
there is commitment to equal opportunity.
Rule in Shelly's Case, your work stretches far beyond the learned opinions that shape our
nation's jurisprudence.
7.
Some comparative statistics are listed below:
African Americans appointed to the Federal Judiciary:
Clinton I
38/204
(18.6%)
+
Bush
13/195
(6.6%)
Reagan II
5/218
(2.3%)
Reagan I
2/167
(1.1%)
Carter I
38/265
(14.3%)
Women appointed to the Federal Judiciary:
Clinton I
61/204
(29.9%)
+
Bush
37/195
(18.9%)
Reagan II
17/218
(7.8%)
Reagan I
15/167
(9.8%)
Carter
41/265
(15.4%)
Hispanics appointed to the Federal Judiciary:
Clinton I
16/204
(7.8%)
+
Bush
8/195
(4.1%)
Reagan II
7/218
(3.2%)
Reagan I
8/167
(4.7%)
Carter
16/265
(6.0%)
more f. more african amu caul,
more Inspacies to The fed'l
jud. Than any administration
in listory of our country.
continue
recow
of 29 mominations before 105m
18 Male
11 Female