U. S. Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.) today applauded President Bush’s decision to appoint Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor to the Eleventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He had the following statement:

“I believe Bill Pryor will be an excellent appellate court judge. I have known Bill for many years and have the highest regard for his intellect and integrity. He is an extraordinarily skilled attorney with a prestigious record of trying civil and criminal cases in both the federal and state courts.”

“Most importantly, Bill Pryor is a man of the law. Whether as a prosecutor, a defense attorney, or the Attorney General of the State of Alabama, he understands and respects the constitutional role of the judiciary and specifically, the role of the federal courts in our legal system. Indeed, I have no doubt that he will make an exceptional federal judge because of the humility and gravity he would bring to the bench. I am confident that he would serve honorably and apply the law with impartiality and fairness,” Shelby concluded.