Now that President Trump has appointed Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, the Senate can begin its work on his confirmation.  This process will include a hearing and vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee and then consideration by all Senators on the Senate floor.

Like Justice Neil Gorsuch, whom President Trump appointed last year, Judge Kavanaugh is an outstanding nominee to the High Court.  His credentials include more than a decade on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and his impressive record falls well within the judicial mainstream.  I am confident he will be a strong conservative addition to the Supreme Court, diligently protecting the Constitution and the inalienable rights it affords to every American.

The confirmation of a new justice to the Supreme Court is always a pivotal moment for our country, and Judge Kavanaugh’s consideration by the Senate is an opportunity for Americans to learn for themselves about his legal career and court opinions. 

Wins for Non-Union Workers, Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers

The decisions made by the Supreme Court for this year’s term demonstrate the difference one justice can make.  For example, with a ruling of 5-4, the Supreme Court upheld the First Amendment rights of government workers who do not want to pay dues to labor unions. 

The decision of one justice also made the difference in a particularly significant victory for free speech and the sanctity of life.  In National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra, the justices invalidated part of a California law that forced crisis pregnancy centers to inform a woman about state-funded abortion services, even if those services went against the centers’ deeply held religious beliefs.  The ruling could have implications for similar laws in other states.

Direction of the Court Hangs in the Balance

These court cases follow a number of other major cases in recent years decided by a similarly slim margin and demonstrating just how fragile the balance of the Court is. One of those cases was the Supreme Court’s decision that the individual mandate of Obamacare amounted to a tax. Another case culminated in a 5-4 ruling to protect an individual’s right to own a handgun, overturning the District of Columbia’s handgun ban because it violated the Second Amendment.

With so many important issues at stake, the confirmation of a Supreme Court justice, who will assume a lifetime position, cannot be taken lightly.  This is a decision that far surpasses a presidential or congressional term.  I commend President Trump for his determination to put the best legal minds on the Supreme Court bench.  He has sought jurists with a solid reputation for both their judicial capabilities and their impartiality when interpreting the law.  Judge Kavanaugh has this reputation, and I look forward to participating in his confirmation process in the U.S. Senate.