"The right wing lost the constitutional referendum of 1987," Professor Tribe said.

Democrats pressed Professor Tribe to describe the differences between the two nominees.

Professor Tribe made the most of the final three minutes he had saved for rebuttal.

Professor Tribe is regarded as a liberal on constitutional issues.

"I don't think it's consistently at the level it once was," Professor Tribe said in a telephone interview this week.

"Some things just should not be for sale," Professor Tribe said.

"People touched by crime come to feel they matter less than anyone else," Professor Tribe said.

Should the court agree, Professor Tribe is expected to represent them.

Professor Tribe's lapse is still under review, according to Harvard officials.

Professor Tribe will not be online until at least January 28, 2002.