Louisiana Senator John Kennedy gave his open remarks at Monday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for United States Supreme Court Justice nominee, Amy Coney Barrett.
Barrett is President Trump’s nominee to fill the vacant seat left by the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“This is a solemn occasion as it should be,” said Senator Kennedy. “I can’t think of another position is for life, not a position that in which the occupant is not elected by the people…that is more powerful...at least not in the western world…than an associate justice of the Supreme Court”
Kennedy reaffirmed the role the committee in the vetting process of a SCOTUS justice nominee.
“That is one way of saying that we are supposed to make sure that the president…whatever president makes the nomination… hasn’t made a mistake,” Kennedy said.
Over the next few days the Senate Judiciary Committee will question and test Barrett’s intellect, temperament, character and judicial philosophy according to Kennedy.
“I understand this thing can turn sour real fast,” Kennedy added. “We all watched the hearings for Justice Kavanagh…it was a freak show.
It looked like the cantina-bar scene out of Star Wars.”
Kennedy moved on to address the negativity being spread about President Trump’s nominee.
“I know it hurts to be called a racist, it is one of the worst things you can call an American,” said Kennedy. “I know that it hurts to be called a white-colonialist and I know it must hurt for someone of deep Christian faith, like yourself, to be called a religious-bigot.”
He continues, “American’s love democracy…we’ll even fight for it and we have and that is a wonderful thing it is an important thing in this world as this world becomes more authoritarian.”
For the next four days, Barrett will be questioned by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Today was the committee’s opening comments. Tuesday will begin the question and answer segment which will wrap up with outside witness testimony. The committee is expected to vote on October 22. After a vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will move the vote to the Senate floor for their vote by October 29.