Working with Sessions, civil rights advocates pushed to reduce this disparity significantly -- among the greatest advances in criminal justice reform in decades.

CNN: GOP, time to rebrand in the image of the 'Great Emancipator'

Last time, when I nominated Sonia Sotomayor, I have to say that all the individuals who are sitting here -- Mitch McConnell, Harry Reid, Jeff Sessions and Patrick Leahy -- worked very cooperatively on what I considered to be a smooth, civil, thoughtful nomination process and confirmation process.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama at a Bipartisan Meeting on the Supreme Court | The White House