Yesterday, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, authored an Op-Ed in The Hill urging the Senate to withhold their consent on Judge Kavanaugh's nomination to the United States Supreme Court as confirmation hearings are set to begin this week. 

Below is an excerpt of Congressman Nadler's Op-Ed, which can be found published in full on his Medium page here: 

"This week the Senate will begin hearings on President Donald Trump’s nominee to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the U.S. Supreme Court. In many of the landmark cases to come before the Court in recent years, Justice Kennedy represented a bulwark against extreme views, and his retirement raises questions as to whether his replacement will similarly bring an honest and fair-minded approach to the bench. Americans want and expect of those entrusted to sit on our highest court not only an understanding of the Constitution and the application of our laws, but an open minded approach in passing judgment. Yet, with the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, it is clear President Trump intends to fundamentally shift the balance of the court.

"It seems inevitable that Judge Kavanaugh’s appointment would cement extreme legal ideology in this country, and his background explains exactly why he cannot be trusted to bring the open-minded approach we need on the Court.

"Throughout his career, Judge Kavanaugh’s work has demonstrated a clear political agenda rather than an open mind. During his tenure on the federal appeals court for the District of Columbia, Judge Kavanaugh showed a disturbing lack of concern for Americans’ fundamental rights, for the impact of the law on the well-being of ordinary people, and for the separation of powers that maintains our democracy.

"His record depicts a political view that routinely sides with big business, defers to the influence of money and power in our political process, allows authority to be consolidated under the president without accountability, and believes in limiting protections based on age, race, gender, religion, ability, sexual orientation or national origin afforded under the Constitution."

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