I would hope that Sullivan would require the investigation be a fully public event.
I've been a member of the Judiciary Committee for 20 years, and chairman for 12 years. This is the first time that we've ever had a letter or any type of direct report from a member of the Supreme Court regarding misconduct taking place at the Supreme Court. It's extraordinary.
For now, while we are focusing on finishing the session, we want to make sure nothing gets destroyed or removed.
The major point is to protect private homeowners from eminent domain and put major hurdles in the way of the government if they want to take your house. It's going to put an awful lot of obstacles in the way of eminent domain, especially for economic development.
Today is a milestone, but it's hardly the end of the story. One way or another we're going to be living the rowland scandal for the foreseeable future.
There is going to be a public hearing, and there is going to be a vote, and, more likely than not, he is going to be confirmed.
These are important policy issues that we have to get straight between our two branches of government, and the decision today is a big step in the wrong direction.
Most people who are sex offenders plea bargain, often because the victims themselves don't want to testify. If the minimum sentence is 25 years, no one would ever plead to a sex offense.
Everybody who knows how criminal justice works thinks this is a bad idea.
