No matter how badly senators want to know things, judicial nominees are limited in what they may discuss. That limitation is real, and it comes from the very nature of what judges do.

and raised in the affluent suburb of Mt. Hatch serves as a member of the board of directors of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. In March 2009 the Washington Times reported that the pharmaceutical industry which has benefited from Hatch's legislative efforts had previously unreported connections to Hatch.

He previously served as chairman of the Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee from 1981 to 1987. He currently serves as ranking minority member of the Senate Finance Committee.