Senate concludes Kavanaugh hearing
WASHINGTON (AP) — After two marathon days questioning Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, senators concluded his confirmation hearing Friday
Friday’s hearing began with testimony from the American Bar Association, whose officials detailed how Kavanaugh achieved a unanimous “well qualified” rating from the lawyers group. Paul Moxley, the chairman of the group’s standing committee on the federal judiciary, said that the rating “reflects the consensus of his peers” and that the ABA conducted 120 personal interviews and contacted about 500 people to assess Kavanaugh.
When asked whether Kavanaugh was a mainstream jurist, John Tarpley, another ABA official, responded: “Absolutely. He’s at the top of the stream.”
One of the Democrats’ witnesses was John Dean, Richard Nixon’s White House counsel. He told lawmakers that the high court with Kavanaugh on it would be “the most presidential powers-friendly court in the modern era.”
Senators on the Judiciary Committee are likely to vote on Kavanaugh’s confirmation on Sept. 20 with a vote by the full Senate the following week. Republicans hope to confirm the judge, who would nudge the high court fur- ther to the right, in time for the first day of court’s new term, Oct. 1.
Abortion was a main focus throughout the hearing, with Democrats
portraying Kavanaugh as a judge who might vote to undercut or overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision establishing a constitutional right.
Senate Democrats, in the minority 51-49, hope to appeal to two Republican senators who support abortion access to break from their party and vote against Kavanaugh.
On Friday, New York University law professor Melissa Murray told lawmakers that Kavanaugh would provide the “necessary fifth vote that would utterly eviscerate” Roe v. Wade.
On the Republican side, witnesses testifying in support of Kavanaugh included longtime friends and former law clerks. They talked about his intelligence and open-mindedness, calling
him “thoughtful,” ‘’humble,” ‘’wonderfully warm” and a “fair-minded and independent jurist.” A number praised his concerted efforts to hire as law clerks both minorities and women.
Senate Democrats had worked into the night Thursday on Kavanaugh’s final day of questioning in a last, ferocious attempt to paint him as a foe of abortion rights and a likely defender of President Donald Trump.
But the 53-year-old appellate judge stuck to a well-rehearsed script throughout his testimony, providing only glimpses of his judicial stanc-
es while avoiding any serious mistakes that might jeopardize his confirmation.
On Friday, Democratic witnesses expressed concern about Kavanaugh’s record on a range of issues including affirmative action, the rights of people with disabilities, access to birth control and abortion. Democratic witnesses also included a student who survived the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, and Rochelle Garza, the legal guardian for a pregnant immigrant teenager whose quest for an abortion Kavanaugh would have delayed last year.
Yale law school professor
Akhil Reed Amar, a liberal testifying in support of Kavanaugh, had a message for Democratic senators: “Don’t be mad. He’s smart. Be careful what you wish for. Our party controls neither the White House nor the Senate. If you torpedo Kavanaugh you’ll likely end up with someone worse.”
Senators on the Judiciary Committee are likely to vote on Kavanaugh’s confirmation on Sept. 20 with a vote by the full Senate the following week. Republicans hope to confirm Kavanaugh in time for the first day of the new Supreme Court term, Oct. 1.