Brett Kavanaugh's Judicial Policy Is Exactly What America Needs
Unless you were asleep when the announcement was made and you’re just waking up, you pretty much know the news by now — Brett Kavanaugh is the man Donald Trump is putting forward to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Kavanaugh, who sits on the powerful D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, is a strong conservative who was popular pick among powerful Republicans in the Senate.
And, in case you had any doubts, you needed only to look at his speech accepting the nomination to realize he’ll be a powerful voice for conservatism and originalism on the nation’s highest bench.
“Mr. President, thank you,” Kavanaugh began, according to an Associated Press transcript of the event. “Throughout this process, I have witnessed firsthand your appreciation for the vital role of the American judiciary. No president has ever consulted more widely or talked with more people from more backgrounds to seek input about a Supreme Court nomination. Mr. President, I am grateful to you, and I’m humbled by your confidence in me.”
“Thirty years ago, President Reagan nominated Anthony Kennedy to the Supreme Court,” Kavanaugh continued.
“The framers established that the Constitution is designed to secure the blessings of liberty. Justice Kennedy devoted his career to securing liberty. I am deeply honored to be nominated to fill his seat on the Supreme Court.”
After thanking his family, Kavanaugh said that his “judicial philosophy is straightforward. A judge must be independent and must interpret the law, not make the law. A judge must interpret statutes as written. And a judge must interpret the Constitution as written, informed by history and tradition and precedent.
“For the past 11 years, I’ve taught hundreds of students, primarily at Harvard Law School. I teach that the Constitution’s separation of powers protects individual liberty, and I remain grateful to the dean who hired me, Justice Elena Kagan.”
“Tomorrow, I begin meeting with members of the Senate, which plays an essential role in this process,” Kavanaugh noted.
“I will tell each senator that I revere the Constitution. I believe that an independent judiciary is the crown jewel of our constitutional republic. If confirmed by the Senate, I will keep an open mind in every case and I will always strive to preserve the Constitution of the United States and the American rule of law.”
As for the Senate, it looks like he certainly has some powerful supporters:
He has over 300 published opinions, with a strong record of defending the #SecondAmendment, safeguarding the separation of powers, reining in the unchecked power of federal agencies, and preserving our precious religious liberties.
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) July 10, 2018
Judge Kavanaugh has won the respect of his peers in the legal community and demonstrates a firm understanding of the role of a judge in our republic. I look fwd to meeting w/ him and to the Senate’s thorough consideration of his nomination. My statement: https://t.co/rv1QDCdNyZ
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) July 10, 2018
And even those Republicans who are considered difficult votes seemed open to the nomination:
My statement on the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be the next Supreme Court justice: pic.twitter.com/SEZmSbZg9C
— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) July 10, 2018
My statement on Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh https://t.co/R8SNnDGOXL pic.twitter.com/2O8kDjGurU
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) July 10, 2018
Judge Brett Kavanaugh has impeccable credentials & a strong record of upholding the Constitution. He is widely respected as a fair, independent & mainstream judge. I look forward to the Senate moving forward with a fair & thorough confirmation process. https://t.co/5Y5oWo36RB
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) July 10, 2018
Meanwhile, here’s the hissy fit from Democrats.
.@realDonaldTrump is using this nomination as a destructive tool on a generation of progress for workers, women, LGBTQ people, communities of color & families, & to radically reverse the course of American justice & democracy. #WhatsAtStake #StopKavanaugh https://t.co/lUDbzInQZ3 pic.twitter.com/oq6954uChh
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) July 10, 2018
I will oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination with everything I have, and I hope a bipartisan majority will do the same. The stakes are simply too high for anything less.
Read my full statement on #WhatsAtStake: https://t.co/BYtcB3LWWB #StopKavanaugh pic.twitter.com/5f2Bomxltb— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) July 10, 2018
In other words, this pick is looking like a winner. Time will tell, but the Trump administration clearly can’t be unhappy with what they’ve seen so far.
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