NCLR Responds to Senate Confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States

WASHINGTON, DC - October 6, 2018 - The U.S. Senate today voted to confirm Trump nominee Brett Kavanaugh to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, despite the fact that Kavanaugh faced credible allegations of attempted rape. More than 2,400 law professors signed a letter opposing Kavanaugh's nomination, citing his lack of judicial temperament and the partisan behavior he displayed at last week's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. And this week, Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens echoed these concerns, stating that Kavanaugh's behavior at last week's hearing indicates that he is not qualified to sit on the nation's highest court.

National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) Legal Director Shannon Minter issued the following statement in response:

"Today's Senate vote is not only a slap in the face to women and all sexual assault survivors-it is a terrible blow to the legitimacy of the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh's belligerence and hyperpartisan attacks at last week's hearing demonstrates that he does not have the temperament or impartiality for a lifetime appointment to our nation's highest court.

"Kavanaugh would tilt an already conservative court to the far right. We need a balanced court-not a rubber stamp for Trump that would permit our president to be above the law. And I have little doubt that Kavanaugh will be a consistent vote against liberty and equality for LGBTQ and many other people.

"The points made by Senator Susan Collins yesterday on Roe and the Affordable Care Act justifying her vote for Kavanaugh were completely out of step with Kavanaugh's judicial record and his strong support from extremist groups that seek to gut these protections. Kavanaugh had to pass a Trump litmus test to secure this nomination. Many expect he would eliminate Affordable Care Act protections for preexisting conditions, which would be particularly devastating for transgender people and people living with HIV in our community. He is also likely to decimate Roe v. Wade, and with that access to critical reproductive healthcare, including abortion.

"Today the United States Senate failed the American people by confirming to the Supreme Court an individual wholly unsuited to a lifetime appointment to a position that will affect the lives of everyone in this country."

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. www.NCLRights.org