Mr. Leahy mr. President , i ask the call of the quorum be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection, so ordered. The senator from vermont. Mr. Leahy mr. President , today were debating whether the senate is allowed to vote on the confirmation of patricia millett. Shes nominated to fill the vacancy that our current chief justice, john roberts, previously occupied on the United States the United States court of appeals for the d. C. Circuit. Now, if shes confirmed as of course she should be, shell be only the sixth woman to serve on the d. C. Circuit in its more than 1020year history. Shes be a 120year history. She is an extraordinary nominee, she has impeccable credentials for this important appellate court. I like so many others across this country hope that her confirmation is not going to suffer from the partisanship and gridlock that consumed Congress Earlier this month. Patricia millett has had a brilliant legal career. Shes argued 32 cases before the Supreme Court. A