Union Leader Urges Senate to Reject Kavanaugh Nomination in Full Vote

WASHINGTON—American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten sent a letter to the U.S. Senate today to reiterate the union’s opposition to Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Regarding the letter, and the nomination, Weingarten said:

“Like Judge Kavanaugh, the AFT’s 1.7 million members are employed predominantly in public service. But the similarities end there. Judge Kavanaugh’s record and his behavior have let our profession, and our entire country, down.

“Yesterday, as our government reviewed the limited FBI investigation’s findings, voices from nearly every side of our democracy continued to speak out against Judge Kavanaugh’s fitness to serve. Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, himself nominated by a Republican president, came forward to state unequivocally that Kavanaugh’s performance during his confirmation hearing was disqualifying. Thousands of law professors of all political persuasions wrote that, despite their differences of opinions, they stood united in their belief that ‘Judge Kavanaugh did not display the impartiality and judicial temperament requisite to sit on the highest court of our land.’ Echoes to this chorus came from the ACLU, the National Council of Churches, and of women’s, workers’ and civil rights groups.

“The Supreme Court has historically stood as a co-equal branch of government that interprets the law, not one that exacerbates the tribalism and rancor that characterizes too much of our public life today. Kavanaugh’s testimony last Thursday violated that role.

“I beseech the U.S. Senate to reject that tribalism, to choose fidelity to our democracy and the rule of law, and to reject Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination when it comes to a full vote.”

Full text of the letter can be found here.