[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2113-2114]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    THE RECORD OF JUDGE RICHARD PAEZ

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I wanted to speak a little earlier, but I 
didn't have the opportunity. The minority is very happy that we are 
going to move forward on some judicial nominations. One of the 
nominations holds a record. It is a record that Judge Paez has. He has 
been waiting more than 4 years to have the Senate decide whether or not 
he can be elevated to the Ninth Circuit. We feel Judge Paez is 
eminently qualified. I think we will find that a majority of the 
majority will also feel that way.
  Here is a man whose record is unsurpassed. He is a person who has 
been said to be--these are different quotes--``a well-respected, 
experienced judge.'' ``Judge Paez has bipartisan support.'' ``Judge 
Paez is not an `activist', nor is he `anti-business.' '' Judge Paez has 
outstanding judicial temperament and is not `antireligion.''' Judge 
Paez has not acted ``unethically.'' ``Judge Paez has committed to 
follow the law on the death penalty,'' and to follow the law generally.
  I hope when we look at this man and his qualifications, he will 
receive an overwhelming vote. He is qualified for the Ninth Circuit.
  Judge Paez is a graduate of Brigham Young University and he received 
his law degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1972. 
He has received the highest rating given by the American Bar 
Association to Federal judicial nominees, which is well qualified.
  It is important to note his nomination swept through here earlier 
when he was confirmed to the trial court on the Federal judicial level. 
He served with distinction after we, the Senate, approved his 
nomination. He has done that for 5 years, where he has served, as I 
have indicated, as a U.S. District Judge for the Central District of 
California. He has presided over numerous trials. Prior to being a 
Federal district court judge, he had a distinguished career as a State 
court judge. He served as a California State judge for 13 years. He is 
somebody who has been active in charitable and community affairs. He is 
a family man. His mother and father and 10 brothers and sisters live in 
another Western State, the State of Utah.
  As I have indicated, Judge Paez has bipartisan support from, for 
example, James Rogan, a Republican Congressman from California, and a 
former judge himself; he supports Judge Paez. He has support from Los 
Angeles district attorney, Gil Garcetti; Los Angeles County Sheriff, 
Sherman Block; Los Angeles Police Protective League; National 
Association of Police Organizations; former California judge and 
president of the Los Angeles Bar Association, Sheldon Sloan; 
Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, President Pete Brodie; Los 
Angeles County Police Chiefs' Association. It goes on and on. It is a 
shame we have not worked and gotten this nomination approved earlier. I 
hope, as I have indicated, this will not become related to some 
extraneous issue. It should be decided on its merits.
  Mr. President, I recognize that my friend from Alaska, the chairman 
of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is going to speak on the 
Ninth Circuit. I have some familiarity with it because the chief judge 
in the Ninth Circuit is from Nevada, Procter Hug. We are proud of the 
fact that he is the chief judge of the Ninth Circuit. He also has rave 
reviews. He is a graduate of Stanford University School of Law. He has 
administered the Ninth Circuit very well. I hope those who feel there 
should be something done about the Ninth Circuit would look at what we

[[Page 2114]]

have already done. This has become an issue. As a result of that, there 
was a commission appointed, led by former Supreme Court Justice Byron 
``Whizzer'' White. They made a decision on what should be done with the 
Ninth Circuit, and that it should be kept intact and be administered 
differently.
  So I hope the committee of jurisdiction which will review the Ninth 
Circuit matters will take into consideration what has already been 
done, and that there will be hearings held as to what should be done, 
if anything, with the Ninth Circuit.

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