More Than 100 N.C. Legislators Send Letter Supporting Confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh

By M.H. Cavanaugh
Christian Action League
August 31, 2018

RALEIGH – Thursday, North Carolina House Speaker, Rep. Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) and Senate President Pro Tem, Sen. Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), along with more than 100 other legislators sent a letter expressing support for Judge Brett Kavanaugh as the next Supreme Court Justice to fill retired Justice Anthony Kennedy’s vacant seat.

The confirmation process for Kavanaugh is expected to be one of the most heated battles in American history.

Kavanaugh is President Donald J. Trump’s second nomination to the High Court in 19 months. Neal Gorsuch was his first. The U.S. Senate confirmed Gorsuch in a vote of 54-45.

Kavanaugh is already making the rounds to Senate members and making his case for their approval.

Democrats are expected to hammer Kavanaugh on issues such as abortion, healthcare, gun rights, LGBTQ, religious liberty, Presidential authority, and others are likely to be considered during his tenure.

Kavanaugh needs 51 votes for confirmation. The U.S. Senate is currently made up of 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats. The vote is expected to go along party lines, but there could be some surprises.

Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska are pro-choice, which could affect their decision. Kavanaugh is a known conservative. There are also four Democratic Senators who voted for Gorsuch and are seeking re-election this year in states which Trump won. Those Senators are, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Still, a wild-card at the moment is the person that will fill the Senate seat of the late Sen. John McCain.

The letter from North Carolina lawmakers is addressed to Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Kavanaugh must first be scrutinized. The Judiciary Committee has 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats. The letter was also addressed to North Carolina Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr. Tillis, like Grassley, serves on the Judiciary Committee too.

The full text of the letter reads:

Dear Sens. Grassley, Burr & Tillis,

We write to express our strong support for Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court.

As legislators, we have accepted the responsibility to faithfully represent the interests of our constituents in creating the laws that govern our state. We firmly believe that the judiciary’s role is to interpret those laws, not to use the power of the bench to circumvent the legislature and enact preferred policies. 

Judge Kavanaugh’s decisions throughout his distinguished judicial career make it clear that he will enforce the text, structure, and original understanding of the U.S. Constitution. He is a brilliant legal mind with impeccable credentials. On the merits, Judge Kavanaugh is a leading jurist on one of America’s top courts whose opinions are regularly cited throughout the country, and his confirmation should receive unanimous support.

We appreciate your work to advance the confirmation of an immensely qualified nominee through the political minefield. We stand ready to assist in any way we can to help ensure Judge Brett Kavanaugh becomes the next U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

Sincerely, 

Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger       North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore                                                                    

Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, said Kavanaugh’s confirmation would likely swing SCOTUS back to the Right for a generation or more, which could decide whether this Republic will survive.

“I am so thankful to Senator Berger and Speaker Moore, as well as the lawmakers who signed this letter to have the forethought to send it. The letter expresses well the urgency of Kavanaugh’s confirmation, especially at a time when people like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, and other leftist Senators are promising to do everything within their power to derail his appointment,” said Creech.

Just after President Trump nominated Kavanaugh back in July, North Carolina’s own Franklin Graham wrote in a Facebook post of the importance of Kavanaugh’s confirmation:

“Those on the progressive, socialist left are of course already enraged. Another conservative justice threatens their agendas and the direction they were trying to push this country. They are rallying their forces and had begun protesting even before the announcement was made! We need to thank God for this long-awaited opportunity to change the makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court. And we need to be faithful to pray for Judge Kavanaugh and his family during the very intense confirmation process.”