i might also note the nominee john tharp is senator kirk's first federal judicial nominee. he and i work closely together to approve both of these nominees in a bipartisan basis and i hope that the next time we meet maybe as soon as next week we can send our colleague who is recovering the good news that not moving this bill more quickly. with his trademark humility senator specter did that and i'm happy to say that i got the message and conveyed it to senator leahy and now we are here. mr. chairman, the supreme court justices are appointed for a lifetime. they make decisions that change the lives of americans as much or more as anything we do in congress. yet the so-called public hearings of the supreme court are open only to 250 americans on a real time basis. just how important is it in a democracy to bring the proceedings of an important american institution like the supreme court into full view of

i also noted that the nom -- they nominate john tharp and he is the first nominee. he and i work together to approve both of these nominees. i hope that the next time we meet, maybe as soon as next week, we can send our collie, who is recovering the goodness that our nominees are moving forward. the legislation has -- is permitting the televising. thank you, senator grassley for co-sponsoring this measure. arlen specter made senate history sitting at the witness table. he admonished me for not moving this bill more quickly. [laughter] i am happy to say that i got the message and i have conveyed it to senator leahy. we are here. supreme court justices are appointed for life 10. they make the decisions that changed the lives of americans. the so-called public hearings of the supreme court are open only to 250 americans on a real-time basis. just how important is it in a democracy to bring the proceedings of an important american institution into full view of the american people? let me read this -- "people in an open society do not demand infallibility from their inst