[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 135 (Friday, August 11, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12329-S12330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NOMINATION OF WILLIAM SESSIONS

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, there should be various confirmations by 
the Senate within the next few hours. I am hoping that one of those who 
will be confirmed will be William Sessions of Vermont to be a Federal 
District Judge. I am fairly confident that this will happen, so let me 
say a couple of things about Bill Sessions.
  Mr. President, Bill Sessions is one of the most respected attorneys I 
have known in the years that I have practiced law in Vermont. I became 
a member of the bar of Vermont well over 30 years ago. Since that time 
I have seen hundreds of lawyers, men and women, who are some of the 
best I have seen in any part of the country. We are blessed in a small 
State like ours with having lawyers of extraordinary capability. But 
throughout that time there has always been a small cadre of the very, 
very best. Bill Sessions has always been on that list. He is considered 
one of the finest trial attorneys this year or any year in Vermont.
  He is treated with great respect by both the plaintiff and defense 
bars, and by both the prosecution and the defendant bars. I have heard 
from prosecutors who had to face him in court and lost, who tell me 
that they have the utmost respect for him because of his honesty, his 
integrity, and his ability. And I have heard from people, over and over 
again, who have either been co-counsel with him or opposing counsel, 
who have equal praise, as do the Judges of Vermont.
  We have had an extraordinary circumstance where all of the Federal 
Judge positions in Vermont became vacant through an elevation and 
retirements. We have had to replace one Judge on the second circuit 
court of appeals and two federal district judges.
  I have had the privilege of recommending to President Clinton a 
person to be appointed to the second circuit court of appeals, Judge 
Fred Parker, who now serves there with distinction. I then had the 
privilege to recommend to the President Gar Murtha of Dummerston who 
now serves with distinction as the chief Federal Judge in Vermont.
  I have now had the privilege of recommending to President Clinton the 
name of William Sessions to be a federal district judge. The President 
has nominated him, the Judiciary Committee has met on him and approved 
him, 

[[Page S 12330]]
and now the Senate is poised to act on his nomination.
  Mr. President, I told President Clinton that he could rest assured 
that Bill Sessions would serve with great distinction, and that the 
President could look at him as an appointment of which he could be 
proud.
  I know that Vermonters will join me in welcoming Bill Sessions' 
confirmation as a federal district judge. I know Vermonters look 
forward to him serving on the bench.
  I must say to Bill Sessions and his family that it is a singular 
honor to be able to recommend him. It is an honor to join in his 
confirmation. This nomination is an honor he has earned, and it is an 
honor that he and his family should all share. It is an honor that 
Vermont will be able to share.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that further 
proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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