Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) (gov)
In his opening statement, Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) said he would judge Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan by the same standard as other nominees and urged her to follow the example of former Justice Thurgood Marshall.
Despite criticism from Republicans on her choice of Marshall as a judicial role model, Durbin told Kagan not to shy away from the former justice.
“America is a better nation because of the tenacity, integrity and values of Thurgood Marshal,” he said. “And I say thank God.”
Durbin also sharply criticized the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which he said restricts the freedom of Americans.
“The court needs a person with the ability to build consensus and find common ground,” he added, holding Kagan up as the perfect nominee to do just that.
