The hearings included states' assessments that their judicial systems were not protecting female victims of such crimes.

The hearing included testimony from military veterans on the effects of the policy.

The hearing is expected to take two days and include 24 witnesses.

The hearing included the first public testimony by Amy Elliott, the vice president who handled the account.

The hearings included criticism of the boards' record-keeping and enforcement.

The hearing, of course, included occasional lapses in grammar and syntax.

The hearing included proposals by lawyers' groups to require that all justices have law degrees.

Today, it is generally accepted that the hearings included incorrect, excessive or unfounded arguments.

The hearing includes the usual protections of due process: representation by a lawyer, the right to call witnesses and so on.

Mr. Thompson also announced today that the hearings in the next few weeks would include high-profile witnesses.