Opening statement - Leahy

Using MS Word to summarize Leahy's statement:

It's a framework for our government, the foundation of all our rights and liberties. We understand the importance of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Constitution: We the people.

When the Constitution was written, though, We the people did not include Native Americans, or African-American slaves, but only free people.

I've long been a proponent of First Amendment freedoms and open government, because the public's right to know what our government is doing promotes accountability.
Federal judges aren't elected, they serve for life if they're confirmed. This hearing is about the fundamental right of all Americans.

Ours is a government of laws. The balance and the direction of the Supreme Court now at issue with two vacancies, both Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Now there's only 100 Americans standing in the shoes of all other Americans.