The Women’s Law Project strongly opposes the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. Initially, we opposed Kavanaugh’s nomination for reasons succinctly and clearly outlined in a public letter we signed alongside 200 national organizations earlier this month.
Recent allegations that Judge Kavanaugh sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl while he was in high school, and how those allegations are being handled, have only added gravity to the weight of our opposition. Additionally, compelling allegations have surfaced indicating that Kavanaugh may have already made misleading statements while under oath.
The fact that President Trump is an unindicted co-conspirator to federal crimes committed to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election calls into question the legitimacy of this nomination.
Judge Kavanaugh’s 12-year record on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, as well as his known writings, speeches, and legal career, demonstrate that if he were confirmed to the Supreme Court, he would be the fifth and decisive vote to undermine many of our core rights and legal protections.
Judge Kavanaugh has sought to undermine access to health care, has demonstrated hostility to reproductive freedom, restricted voting rights, opposed equal opportunity and affirmative action, has been dismissive of discrimination claims, hostile to worker’s rights, demonstrated disregard to disability rights, expressed anti-immigrant views and finally, has troubling views of presidential power.
Now, in the wake of serious allegations of sexual assault against Judge Kavanaugh during an incident that occurred when he was in high school, there is good reason to at least postpone the vote, if not rescind the nomination altogether.
The Senate Judiciary signaled an intention to hold a hearing on Monday, in order to hear from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, the person whose allegations against Kavanaugh recently came to light. Dr. Ford has requested the FBI conduct a thorough investigation before she testifies, and continues to cooperate with authorities.
WLP Executive Director Carol E. Tracy recently spoke with the Philadelphia Inquirer about the similarities and differences between what is happening now and what happened in 1991, when Professor Anita Hill was asked to testify to her experiences of harassment while working with then-nominee Justice Clarence Thomas:
[Tracy said] the Thomas hearings were “clearly an exercise in victim-blaming.” Today, she said, the public won’t tolerate “character assassination.”
Read the Inquirer article here.
Tune In: Carol Tracy to Discuss Allegations Against Kavanaugh on WHYY Radio Times
On Thursday, September 20, WLP Executive Director Carol E. Tracy will appear on WHYY Radio Times to discuss the nomination of Kavanaugh, provide legal context for the allegations, and discuss the complexities of addressing them.
WHYY Radio Times will be broadcast live at 10AM on Thursday September 20 on WHYY (90.9FM in the Philadelphia area) and also can be heard live here.
Meanwhile, we urge you to continue to contact Pennsylvania Senators and ask them to OPPOSE the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa.
Call: 610-782-9470; 202-224-6324
Email: https://www.casey.senate.gov/contact
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa.
Call: 610-434-1444; 202-224-4254
The Women’s Law Project is a public interest law center in Pennsylvania devoted to advancing the rights of women and girls.
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