He was a law clerk for Judge Becker in 2001 and 2002.

Mr. Specter called Judge Becker the "101st senator" for the power that his rulings had in shaping federal law.

A few days later, Judge Becker died.

"My wife is sitting six feet from me; she owns a bunch of Vanguard shares," Judge Becker said.

"But this has extraordinarily graphic text," Judge Becker said.

"That's what the chief justice is doing," Judge Becker said in an interview last week.

"He sat at the White House this morning," Judge Becker said.

"He's a very strong individual," Judge Becker said.

Threats against offenders subject to state notification would be grounds for a review of the punishment issue, Judge Becker said.

"It is one of the most significant problems that the judiciary faces," Judge Becker said in an interview.