WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- Sen. Dick Durbin issued the following press release:
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned judicial nominees during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Durbin first questioned Judge Daniel Ballou, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, about his concerning comments involving specialty courts. Judge Ballou called specialty courts, such as drug courts, "social engineering," and claimed they were "doing great harm by validating and encouraging excuse making and promoting a lack of accountability." During his questioning, Durbin noted he disagrees with Judge Ballou's views on specialty courts....