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WASHINGTON (AP) - The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee said Tuesday he favors developing new technology to remotely destroy the computers of people who illegally download music from the Internet. The surprise remarks by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, during a hearing on copyright abuses represent a dramatic escalation in the frustrating battle by industry executives and lawmakers in Washington against illegal music downloads. During a discussion on methods to frustrate computer users who illegally exchange music and movie files over the Internet, Hatch asked technology executives about ways to damage computers involved in such file trading. Legal experts have...

In Defense of the Patriot ActBy Orrin HatchUSA Today | May 13, 2003 The tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001 — and the killing of more than 3,000 Americans — are forever etched in our nation's memory. Soon after this tragic attack, Congress in bipartisan fashion enacted the Patriot Act, a long-overdue set of measures that provided law enforcement and intelligence agencies with basic tools needed to fight and win the war against terrorism. In 1996, I proposed many of these same measures in an anti-terrorism bill. Had these measures been in place prior to 9/11, law enforcement agencies may...

<p>WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers frustrated with the slow pace of judicial confirmations and Democratic maneuvers to prevent President Bush's nominees from getting a vote on the Senate floor are taking out their frustrations in a variety of ways.</p> <p>In the beginning of Wednesday's Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for Bush nominee John G. Roberts Jr. (search), Chairman Orrin Hatch (search) praised Democrat Sen. Charles Schumer (search) of New York for asking "intelligent" questions, but then Hatch switched gears.</p>

Senator seeks to streamline approval of judges Democrats expected to fight Hatch's plan to speed Bush nominees 01/24/2003 Associated Press WASHINGTON - With Republicans in charge and President Bush calling for quick action on his judicial choices, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch said he plans to make it harder for Democratic senators to block home-state nominees for federal judgeships. At issue is the "blue slip" tradition, referring to blue-colored approval papers that senators are asked to submit on nominees to fill vacant federal judgeships in their states. For the last few years, both home-state senators had to submit...

<p>WASHINGTON -- Neither fashion Mecca nor fashion wasteland, Washington has its own idea of how to dress.</p> <p>A uniform of sorts emerges from this city of political leaders, civil servants, policy-watchers and lawyers. Think red, gray and blue.</p> <p>For men, especially on Capitol Hill, the safe bet for those wanting to blend in is a dark blue suit, starched dress shirt, plain tie and polished shoes. Aides often wear a blue blazer and khaki pants.</p>

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A large chunk of the money paid to asbestos claimants comes at the expense of U.S. workers in the firms being sued, a new study co-authored by Nobel prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz said Tuesday. The study urged re-examining the lawsuit system used to compensate asbestos claimants, saying it appears to unfairly penalize workers. They each lose tens of thousands of dollars in wages and pensions as their companies are driven into bankruptcy by the claims, it said. The paper seemed certain to be seized by the U.S. business community as more evidence of the need for a...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 — Democrats who had been using their slim majority in the Senate to block several of President Bush's judicial candidates are expected to give way some on Thursday and allow the confirmation of two appeals court nominees, senior Congressional aides said today. Thursday's vote will put on vivid display the impending shift in power in the Senate from Democrats to Republicans and how it will enhance Mr. Bush's ability to shape the courts. The two candidates who are scheduled to be voted on on Thursday by the Judiciary Committee are among about a dozen appeals court candidates...

It was on page five of the Washington Post on Saturday, September 21st, obviously not considered an important story. Titled, "FEC Issues Record Fines In Democrats' Scandals," the story notes, "The Federal Election Commission disclosed yesterday it has imposed record-setting $719,000 in fines against participants in the 1996 Democratic Party fundraising scandals involving contributions from China, Korea and other foreign sources." Why, do you suppose, would the Washington Post, a liberal paper that has always downplayed any criticism of Bill Clinton and his scandals even print an article about the FEC levying a record-setting fine against the Democrats? As long...

<p>WASHINGTON — A candidate for a federal judgeship being pushed by Sen. Orrin Hatch is worrying environmentalists, who say the Utah Republican is packing two little-known courts with his aides.</p> <p>Hatch is promoting a member of his Judiciary Committee staff, Lawrence Block, for the Court of Federal Claims, which handles claims for damages against the U.S. government. Many of its cases involve government "takings" of private property, an issue Block has worked on for eight years.</p>

Hatch was on O'Reilly tonight defending this bill. Washington, D.C. - This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee, with a strong bipartisan vote, took a major step toward improving access to postsecondary educational opportunities for immigrant students in the United States by passing S. 1291, the "Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act" (DREAM Act). The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) commends Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) for championing an issue of great importance to the Latino community. The bill, sponsored by Senators Hatch and Durbin, will help mitigate two significant obstacles for talented immigrant students....