Republican Dino Rossi today joined fellow Republican Clint Didier in opposing the nomination of Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Rossi said he “could possibly support her appointment to a lower court. But, a lifetime appointment to the nation’s highest court doesn’t strike me as the right starting point for someone who has served as a political advocate rather than as a neutral, unbiased arbiter.”
Didier has said she would fail his litmus tests for nominees. Among the tests, he has said he wants high court justices who are anti-abortion and pledge to strictly interpret the U.S. constitution in rulings.
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-WA., said last week she will support Kagan when the confirmation vote comes up as early as Tuesday.
She said of Kagan, “I am confident that she has the judgment and impartiality to serve our nation honorably on the Supreme Court. She has consistently demonstrated that she is committed to a fair and independent approach to rendering justice.”
Below are the complete statements issued today by Rossi and last week by Murray
Rossi:
“I believe that every nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court should have a fair and thorough confirmation process, concluding, almost without exception, with an up-or-down vote by the full Senate.
“Elena Kagan’s hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee left many unanswered questions about her past work, and, more importantly, about how she views the Constitution and the role of a judge. Since Ms. Kagan lacks any prior judicial experience, we must examine her past work in the public and private sector.
“I am not convinced that Ms. Kagan will limit herself to interpreting the Constitution and will instead substitute her own beliefs for laws with which she does not agree personally.
“I admire Ms. Kagan’s personal accomplishments and respect her resume. In fact, I could possibly support her appointment to a lower court. But, a lifetime appointment to the nation’s highest court doesn’t strike me as the right starting point for someone who has served as a political advocate rather than as a neutral, unbiased arbiter. Therefore, I cannot support Ms. Kagan’s confirmation to the Supreme Court.”
Murray:
“After meeting with Solicitor General Elena Kagan and examining her record, experience and testimony, I am confident that she has the judgment and impartiality to serve our nation honorably on the Supreme Court. She has consistently demonstrated that she is committed to a fair and independent approach to rendering justice. And importantly, I believe she has proven that she will work to ensure that the voices of average families are represented on our nation’s highest court.
“Solicitor General Kagan has a strong legal background and is a highly qualified choice for the Supreme Court. When I met with her last May she struck me as thoughtful and fair-minded in her approach to some of the most pressing legal issues we face as a nation. She also presented an evenhanded view of our justice system that gives me every assurance that any individual or group from Washington state could stand before her and receive fair treatment.
“Elena Kagan’s nomination is also another step forward to ensuring a court that is reflective of the country whose laws it safeguards. We are now on the verge of having the most women to serve together on the court at any one time. While we still have work to do to achieve a court that is truly representative of the full diversity of American experiences, I am hopeful that we will continue to strive toward that goal.”
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