League Urges Judiciary Committee to Hold Fair Hearing

LWVUS sent the following memo to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the nomination hearing for Brett Kavanaugh.

September 19, 2018

To:       Members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee

From:       Chris Carson, President

Re:       New Allegations Require a Fair Hearing 

With a lifetime appointment, the next U.S. Supreme Court justice will impact nearly every American's life when the Court hears the next civil, human, and voting rights cases. It is the duty of the Senate Judiciary Committee to ensure that a nominee to America’s highest court is fully vetted. Allegations of sexual assault are serious. 

The League of Women Voters appreciates the Committee scheduling this hearing and we expect that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford will have the opportunity to share her very personal experience while being treated with the utmost dignity and respect. Our expectation is that the Committee will hear both sides fairly and consider the facts and the circumstances as it informs their recommendation to the full Senate. The League also encourages the Committee to carefully consider the timing of this hearing and maintain consistency with prior and similar hearings processes.

America deserves to know that the next Supreme Court Justice will protect people's rights when all other institutions fail. The Senate should not move forward with this lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land without considering the allegations of sexual assault against the nominee. 

The fate of the U.S. Supreme Court and our nation depends on it.