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we're accused of a crime, maybe even our life, if there could be a death penalty involved,
our careers, in the case of the suits that you all were involved in. We willingly do that.
And the way we do it is interesting. You all may not know this, but the lawyers here
certainly know it. When I filed a case in the U.S. District Court in Arizona, I didn't know
which judge I was going to get. There were about 10. There was one I hoped I didn't get.
But I knew that the other nine, it didn't matter. They would all approach -- there were
Democrats. There were Republicans. But I didn't know, because it's the next one in order,
and the lawyers don't know the order, so it's almost by lot.
But we had confidence that we could put our client's issue before the court and that
justice would be done, because that's the way our system works, and over 220 years, the
rule of law has been established in this country by judges applying the law fairly and
impartially. And over time, the precedents have been built up.
And what struck me about what you all had -- and I'm talking about the two of you -- had
to go through is, first of all, you were confronted with a judge who, in a very thorough
decision, said, "You lose." And then you appealed to the Second Circuit and in a per
curiam opinion -- and you all know now what that is all too well -- the court didn't even
write about it, said, "No, you lose again."
And then, the day that you got the results from the Supreme Court, just -- what's the
difference between what you felt at the first situation and when you got the news about
the Supreme Court, about your confidence in our system?
VARGAS: I -- I tried to say earlier that this is exactly how this country was built. This is
why we're so great, because, you know, you can work hard, and you can go after the
things that you want in this -- in this country, and -- and, you know, you're going to be
successful, you know, but you have to apply yourself.
And those are the things that I try to instill in my kids, and I'll always put that forth, and
I'll speak with my actions so that they can see that it's a great country, you know? And --
and that's why you need to work hard.
RICCI: The price of democracy is vigilance. And to be -- to be willing to participate --
and the original feeling was, you know, we always, through our attorneys, always went
back to that process and said, "This is America. If we keep going forward, the process
will work." And that, at the end, to be able to look at my son and say, "You know, I
haven't been there for you," but to look at him and say, "This is -- this is an unbelievable
civics lesson that, if you participate in democracy, that's how it all works." And I thank
you, Senator.
KYL: Well, and I thank you. And I -- I hope that all of you will have confidence in our
legal system in the future. And everybody here, again, regardless of position, will really