Refuse an appointment

Regarding “Health care law hangs in the balance” (Front Page, Sept. 22): Any jurist nominated to the Supreme Court should refuse to accept the appointment because of the circumstances under which the nomination was made.

If the nomination is accepted, the Senate should reject the nomination because their testimony cannot be trusted, given the presumption that the nomination is based on partisan politics, not judicial integrity.

While it is the prerogative of the president to nominate federal judges, confirmation of any justice this close to the election will undermine the rule of law that every judge has taken an oath to protect.

Anthony Somkin, Berkeley