Today, this country has lost a towering voice and an unwavering leader in support of the constitutionally-secured rights and liberties of all Americans.

In the recent confirmation hearings for Justice Sonia Sotomayor, CAC noted the painful absence of Senator Kennedy from the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he had participated in the hearings for every Supreme Court nominee since Justice Potter Stewart was confirmed in 1965. Today, sadly, that loss has become permanent. We grieve along with, and our thoughts and prayers go out to, the Kennedy family and the millions of Americans who were touched personally by Senator Kennedy’s warmth and generosity or saw their lives bettered by the laws he devoted his life to shepherding through the Senate. To a significant degree, we all now live in Edward Kennedy’s America. Happily so. We will miss him.