"His imprint on the nation, the justice system, is profound," Ashcroft said during a reception Tuesday evening in his ornate office suite at the Department of Justice headquarters. "He is a tireless defender of the Constitution and he has lived his life professionally and personally in an exemplary way."

Ashcroft gave Hatch the Edmund J. Randolph Award - named for America's first attorney general - which recognizes outstanding contributions to the mission of the nation's chief law enforcement agency.

"This may not be everything you dreamed of. It's not a Grammy award," Ashcroft quipped as he handed the plaque to Hatch, who moonlights as a songwriter and composer.

The event came as Utah's senior senator nears the end of his stint as chairman of the committee that has authorization and oversight responsibility for the Justice Department. Because of Senate Republican leadership's self-imposed caps on chairmanship tenures, Hatch will be term-limited out of the post at the end of this year.

Although he will remain active on the powerful panel, Hatch could begin the next session of Congress in January without any committee to run, despite his clout as the fourth-most senior Republican in the Senate. Hatch has dismissed as premature speculation over possible shifts in committee assignments by leadership to accommodate him following the election.

In the meantime, events honoring his 28 years on the committee that selects federal judges for lifetime appointments seemed to take on the air of a retirement party.

Tuesday's appreciation affair drew some of Washington's power elite, including Motion Picture Association head Jack Valenti, White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales and Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer.

"I am fond of telling the justices that during their deliberations, just ask yourself, 'What would Orrin have me do?' " joked Hatch.

Ashcroft said Hatch's legislative efforts have helped drive violent crime to a 30-year low and he has supported laws that give Americans a "greater share of liberty."

The attorney general also recited verses of a hymn popular with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Do What Is Right": "Do what is right, let the consequence follow; Battle for freedom in spirit and might; And with stout hearts look ye forth till tomorrow; God will protect you; then do what is right!"

Turning to Hatch, Ashcroft said: "That's a hymn that seems written about you, if not by you."