Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (center), Vermont Democrat, takes pictures after a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in Havana on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (center), Vermont Democrat, takes pictures after a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in Havana on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Sens. Chuck Grassley (from left) and Patrick J. Leahy accompany former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, before Ms. Giffords gives a brief statement at a hearing on gun violence before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)
From left, Sen. Chuck Grassley, Iowa Republican, and Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat, accompany Ms. Giffords as she and Mr. Kelly arrive to testify at the committee hearing. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)
"I think at the federal level and at the state level, get rid of these mandatory minimum sentences. Let judges act as judges and make up their own mind what should be done. The idea that we protect society by one size fits all, or the idea that we can do this kind of symbolism to make us safer — it just does not work in the real world," said Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the senior Democrat in the Senate. (Associated Press)
"I think at the federal level and at the state level, get rid of these mandatory minimum sentences. Let judges act as judges and make up their own mind what should be done. The idea that we protect society by one size fits all, or the idea that we can do this kind of symbolism to make us safer — it just does not work in the real world," said Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the senior Democrat in the Senate. (Associated Press)
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat, is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. (Associated Press)
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy and D.C. Council member David A. Catania (shown) are spearheading efforts in their respective legislative bodies to protect the privacy of personal email accounts. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (shown) and D.C. Council member David A. Catania are spearheading efforts in their respective legislative bodies to protect the privacy of personal email accounts. (Associated Press)
