[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15898-15899]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           EXECUTIVE SESSION

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             NOMINATION OF ROBERT A. KATZMANN, OF NEW YORK

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
immediately proceed to executive session to consider Executive Calendar 
No. 160 on today's Executive Calendar. I further ask unanimous consent 
that the nomination be confirmed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the 
Record, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, 
and the Senate then return to legislative session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nomination was considered and confirmed, as follows:


                         department of justice

       Robert A. Katzmann, of New York, to be United States 
     Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont.
  Mr. LEAHY. Will my friend yield for a moment at this point?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from Wyoming wish to yield to 
the Senator from Vermont?
  Mr. ENZI. Certainly.
  Mr. LEAHY. I thank my friend from Wyoming.
  Mr. President, I know there are going to be more statements made 
afterward. We have just confirmed Robert Katzmann, of New York, to be 
United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit. This is to replace 
the very distinguished and former chief justice of the Second Circuit, 
Jon Newman, who has retired, or has taken senior status. I cannot say 
he is retired. I know how hard Judge Newman continues to work. I get 
reports from his former law clerk, Bruce Cohen, who is the chief 
counsel for the Democrats on the Judiciary Committee.
  I note Judge Katzmann now for two reasons. First, of course, Vermont 
is in that circuit. But far more important, this is a man who was 
brought here at the strong urging and behest of the senior Senator from 
New York, my dear friend and one of the most distinguished Members of 
this body, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, really the intellectual 
giant of the Senate.
  I first met now Judge Katzmann when Senator Moynihan brought him to 
my office, and I was immediately impressed with him. This is the first

[[Page 15899]]

circuit court judge to be confirmed this year.
  Historians can determine what helped the most: the brilliance of 
persuasion of the distinguished Senator from New York or the brilliance 
of Judge Katzmann. I say that it was a symbiotic relationship that made 
the confirmation possible. I applaud my dear friend from across that 
great and beautiful Lake Champlain, my dear friend from New York, but I 
also commend Robert Katzmann. I thank my dear friend from Wyoming for 
allowing me to say this.
  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Will the Senator from Wyoming yield for a very brief 
remark?
  Mr. ENZI. Certainly.
  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, first, I thank my friend and 
distinguished ranking member on the Judiciary Committee for his remarks 
about Judge Katzmann, as I believe he now is. I am very much indebted 
to Senator Hatch, the chairman of the committee. I thank the acting 
majority leader, the Senator from Wyoming.
  On a brief personal note, this is a very special moment for the 
Senator from New York. Judge Katzmann was a graduate student of mine. I 
was a member of the orals examining committee when he received his 
Ph.D. He has been a remarkable student, a professor of law at 
Georgetown University at this point, and an author of important 
articles and books on the relationship between the Congress and the 
judiciary, a subject little attended and important. It attracted the 
attention of Senator Hatch and Senator Leahy.
  I thank the Senator for his indulgence. I thank the Senate for its 
great good judgment in this important confirmation which I do believe 
history will one day record.
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I thank our colleagues for their kind words 
about our new judge. I will mention, any other statements relating to 
the nomination will be printed in the Record. I am certain that since 
he has had such distinguished tutoring, there will be more comments. I 
am pleased to know that.

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