[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[April 24, 1992]
[Pages 637-639]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the Presentation Ceremony for the National Crime Victims' 
Rights Awards

April 24, 1992
    Please be seated, and welcome. Welcome to the Rose Garden on this 
beautiful Friday. We're here to commemorate National Crime Victims' 
Rights Week. I first salute the Attorney General, who is doing a superb 
job for our country in the whole area of law enforcement, Bill Barr, 
standing here. May I also single out Director Sessions, the head of the 
FBI, with us today. Bill, welcome, sir.
    And to others, may I just say that the people seated in this garden 
are representatives of one of this country's strongest traits, 
compassion. And this compassion is the driving force behind the 
improvements that are balancing the scales of justice, strengthening the 
rights of the crime victims. For far too long, the agonizing experiences 
each victim must endure have been overlooked. The seldom-realized truth 
is that the crime

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is just the beginning of a process that will last months, if not years 
or lifetimes.
    The award winners we honor today realize this fact. They've set out 
to improve, protect, and strengthen the rights of crime victims. As 
Attorney General Barr will explain shortly, each and every one of them 
is a hero worthy of saluting in this war on crime. But before the 
Attorney General begins the presentations, I would like to take this 
opportunity to reinforce our administration's commitment to the rights 
of crime victims. This administration, in particular the Department of 
Justice, has fought hard to make strides on behalf of the victims in the 
courtroom.
    In 1991, we gained a landmark Supreme Court decision for crime 
victims in the case known as Payne versus Tennessee, a case which 
authorizes, against a constitutional challenge, the admission of victim 
impact evidence during the sentencing phase of capital cases. In the 
Payne versus Tennessee case, the Supreme Court recognized that the jury 
should be allowed to know the tragic impact that homicide crimes have on 
a survivor. In this case, the jury was allowed to know not only about 
the murderer's brutality toward his victims, but toward the survivors. 
The jury was allowed to know the pain and suffering caused 3-year-old 
Nicholas, the survivor of homicide victims, who missed his mother, 
Charisse, and his 2-year-old sister, Lacie. This decision rings of plain 
common sense, and it rings of fundamental fairness: A jury should know 
the victim, as well as the defendant.
    I want to continue to see strides made in the courtroom. I've said 
it once, and let me just say it again: None of us should rest until all 
of our laws duly reflect the sympathy we should have for victims of 
crime. A key part of our program to make our cities safe again has been 
the appointment of judges who interpret the law and do not legislate 
from the bench. And that is exactly what I have done in naming these 
people to the bench.
    This is a step in the right direction. And as we continue down the 
path of equal justice for accusers and the accused alike, we've 
encountered an uphill climb, frankly, one that is making our work more 
difficult and slowing the pace of progress considerably. As you know, 
that hill that I'm talking about is Capitol Hill with all of its special 
interest groups.
    Here is just one typical example of what we are up against. In 1990, 
the Congress created 11 new circuit and 74 new district judgeships to 
help us wage the war on crime. And yet, two and a half weeks ago, 
special interest groups managed to postpone a vote on my nominee to the 
11th Circuit Court of Appeals, Ed Carnes. Ed Carnes' nomination has been 
before the Senate since January 27th. He has first-rate credentials, 
strong support through his home State of Alabama. In addition, no 
Senator has yet indicated opposition. However, some interest groups, not 
the Senate but the interest groups, oppose his nomination. Their reason? 
As a prosecutor, Ed Carnes has actively campaigned against procedural 
technicalities designed to prevent imposition of the death penalty. 
Their course of action? To obtain a one-month postponement on the vote. 
And the justification? The nomination needed--you've heard it before--
``further study.''
    Personally, I do not understand the priorities of those special 
interest groups. Why so little concern for the victims and so much for 
criminals? It is my hope that the Democratic leadership of the Senate 
agrees with this. And if so, they will not allow Mr. Carnes' nomination 
to be held hostage any longer and will vote on it immediately as 
scheduled upon their return. It is also my hope that they will resist 
future efforts to play politics with the courts and will not yield to 
any more requests for delay on this or other judicial nominations. 
[Applause] I see one person agrees. Those of you here today play an 
important role in stopping this practice by special interest groups. You 
must make your voices heard. Let Congress know that these interest 
groups do not speak for you. Believe me, it will make a real difference 
if you check in on this point.
    I am proud of what this administration has accomplished on behalf of 
crime victims and their survivors. But I am even more proud of this 
Nation's compassionate citizens who identified a fault in the system and 
then, through citizen action, set out to correct it.
    I thank you for your dedication, for your

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hard work, and applaud your successes. And I will now turn the meeting 
over to Attorney General Barr, asking him to do the honors. And may God 
bless you all. Thank you.

                    Note: The President spoke at 10:02 a.m. in the Rose 
                        Garden at the White House. Following the 
                        President's remarks, Attorney General William P. 
                        Barr presented the awards to eight individuals 
                        for exemplary service on behalf of crime victims 
                        and their families and for achievements in 
                        defending the rights of crime victims.