By: Abigail Calandra | Writer
September 12, 2018
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is beyond polarizing. The confirmation hearings have been explosive, filled with protests and unheard of breaches of protocol. Senator Cory Booker (D) threatened and ultimately released confidential documents while Republicans are pushing for a Supreme Court justice that will further the conservative agenda.
After the appointment of Neil Gorsuch in April of 2017, adding Kavanaugh to the highest court would tip the scales to the conservatives. Kavanaugh’s extensive writings and opinions reveal a man who has a clear ideology that influence his rulings. Americans, especially those in the pro-choice and LGBTQ+ communities, have concerns about the future of their rights. “A lot of folks are wondering if he might not overturn Roe v. Wade” Senator Cory Booker said on August 23. “And he confirmed with me this door is wide open.”
San Clemente High School students, who are not only the future of San Clemente but the future of this nation, are developing their own opinions and concerns on politics and the democracy they will soon be able to take part in. Some believing Kavanaugh is violating “women’s rights because each person has authority over their own body” junior Camie Ding voiced. Ding fears that by overturning abortion, rates won’t decrease but rather will “increase rates of risky backstreet abortions.”
However, not all students are taking the same side in this controversial debate, a student who asked to remain anonymous took the stand that “taking [a child’s life] away before they even get a chance to start is a power no one should have.” In addition to the possible overturn of Roe v. Wade, Kavanaugh’s previous rulings show potential threat to the LGBTQ+ community causing junior Cam Wildman to be “scared for the future because the last thing that the world needs is a closed-minded person in power.”
The Democrats suggested that hearings on Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination should be delayed until after the November midterm elections, similar to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s blocking of Obama nominee Merrick Garland. While these delays are not reasonable, in either case, it’s also unfair to hastily rush through Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings to beat the election.
Given that Brett Kavanaugh is only 53 years old, and a seat on the supreme court is a lifetime appointment, he has the potential to impact American law for the next thirty years. After all, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was 60 when she was appointed and, 25 years later is still sitting on the court.
“On the issue of a life-tenured appointment and the need to be vigorous and comprehensive, I don’t think you can say that enough,” Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond and expert on the judiciary said. “This is incredibly rushed for no reason.”
With the November Primary in sight, and Republicans fearing they could lose House majority, the Republicans have steamrolled the Democrats attempts to slow down the confirmation. The final committee vote for Trump’s high court pick is scheduled for September 20, and the full senate will vote on Kavanaugh in the last week of September.
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