On July 22, 2004 United States Senator Patrick Leahy issued a statement concerning the Michigan judicial nominees to the United States Court of Appeals, including Judge David W. McKeague.  In describing Judge McKeague, the Senator said:

I also note my disappointment in his answer to a question I sent him about a presentation he made in the Fall of 2000, when he made what I judged to be inappropriate and insensitive comments about the health and well-being of sitting Supreme Court Justices. In a speech to a law school audience about the impact of the 2000 elections on the courts, Judge McKeague discussed the possibility of vacancies on the Court over the following year. In doing so he felt it necessary to not only refer to -- but to make a chart of -- the Justices particular health problems, and ghoulishly focus on their life expectancy by highlighting their ages. He says he does not believe he was disrespectful, and used only public information. There were other, better ways he could have made the same point, and it is too bad he still cannot see that.

The people of the Sixth Circuit deserve better than this.

Click here to see the full text of Senator Leahy's statement.

Click here to see more about Judge David W. McKeague