Senate Judiciary Committee slates Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexual misconduct hearing for Sept. 27, 2018
Urge Members of the Senate Judiciary to Vote “No” on Kavanaugh
The Issue: President Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court on July 10, 2018. After four days of hearings which began on Sept. 4, we are still left with serious questions, most importantly why are we rushing a decision as important as a lifetime appointment to the US Supreme Court, the highest court in the land.
Furthermore, since that hearing at least two women have alleged that Judge Kavanaugh illegally tried to force himself on them. Until these allegations are investigated and resolved by a non-partisan authority such as the FBI, all additional hearings should be suspended.
As the attorneys for one of the alleged victims wrote, “As the Judiciary Committee has recognized and done before, an FBI investigation of the incident should be the first step in addressing her allegations. A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are thoroughly assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions.”
In addition to the new allegations, we do not yet have a full accounting of the nominee’s complete policy beliefs, and there remain accusations of perjury before the US Senate Judiciary Committee thirteen years ago when he was being vetted for his current position on the US Court of Appeals. Thus, we are left with a candidate of questionable morals whose incomplete record demonstrates him to be an extremist with no empathy for the very real concerns and needs of most working middle-class Americans or for the unique challenges and concerns of racial and ethnic minority Americans or other historically marginalized people.
The NAACP continues to strongly oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination. By most estimates, Judge Kavanaugh’s vetting by the Senate Judiciary Committee included less than 10% of the documents from his legal and administrative carrier in the White House and the federal government.
This is a huge disservice to the American people.
As a judge, Mr. Kavanaugh’s actions are bound by precedents of the Supreme Court. However, Supreme Court Justices are able to overturn those precedents and apply their own interpretations of the Constitution. Crucial information continues to be withheld on a Supreme Court nominee from review by the Senate Judiciary Committee, the full Senate and the American people.
The NAACP has grave concerns about this nomination and about the unnecessary and reckless rush to confirmation. This nomination should only be considered by the Senate elected by the American people in November, 2018, after all the allegations have been resolved by trained, non-partisan individuals and after every Senator has had adequate time to fully review all of the relevant records; after the 116th Congress is seated in January 2019. The Supreme Court is too important. The American people are owed the complete and unvarnished truth.
THE ACTION WE NEED YOU TO TAKE:
Sign the petition to Save SCOTUS
THE MESSAGE
- Until the allegations of sexual misconduct against Judge Kavanaugh are investigated and resolved by a non-partisan authority such as the FBI, all additional hearings should be suspended;
- The Judiciary Committee hearings already made it clear that a number of questions regarding Judge Kavanaugh’s beliefs and his judicial temperament are still unclear;
- The hearings did demonstrate, however, that Brett Kavanaugh does not empathize with the crucial needs of working middle-class Americans or the unique concerns of racial and ethnic minorities, the LGBT community, women, or others who comprise our diverse nation.
- His record shows a willingness to allow law enforcement to use the repugnant and counter- productive tactic of “racial profiling,” an open hostility to the Affordable Care Act and access to health care for all Americans, as well as sensible measures to protect Americans from the growing crisis of gun violence.
- This nomination is too important to rush. The country desperately needs a fair-minded and independent jurist on the Supreme Court, not a divisive and biased ideologue who will further shake the American people’s faith in our nation’s justice system.
- This nomination should be fully vetted by the Senate elected by the American people in November, 2018, in the 116th Congress once and if any and all allegations of perjury and sexual misconduct have been resolved, when all of the facts are in and fully reviewed.
REMEMBER TO CONTACT BOTH YOUR SENATORS!
For more information about why we must take this action, or about contacting your Senators, please download and read the full Action Alert.
