It is the nation's confidence in the judge as an impartial guardian of the rule of law, '' Stevens said.

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Prosecutors had presented those billing records as evidence that Stevens did not disclose, as required by law, gifts and services he'd received.

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Most of yesterday was taken up by testimony from Catherine Stevens, the senator's wife who's a partner in a major law firm and said she was in charge of the renovation of the couple's Girdwood, Alaska home, a renovation that transformed a modest A-frame cabin in the woods into a two-story chalet with wrap-around decks, a Jacuzzi, fancy grill, and other amenities.

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