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We’re asking the Senator to vote against the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. As a federal appeals court judge, Kavanaugh has shown opposition to women’s reproductive rights, environmental protection, consumer protection, workers’ rights and common sense gun safety. Most troubling of all, Kavanaugh has said that a sitting President should be exempt from criminal prosecution and investigation.

Kavanaugh’s record as a judge shows:

  • A willingness to ignore a woman’s right to choose under Roe v. Wade. Last year Kavanaugh tried to block a 17-year-old detainee’s constitutional right to abortion. His decision was overturned on appeal.
  • Opposition to common sense gun safety. Kavanaugh opposed a ban on semiautomatic rifles in the District of Columbia.
  • Consistent favoring of big corporations over workers’ rights and workplace safety.
  • Hostility toward environmental protection, including efforts against climate change.
  • Opposition to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a watchdog agency formed after the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the resulting severe recession.

Kavanaugh supports an unprecedented level of power and immunity for the President.

  • In a case about the Affordable Care Act, Kavanaugh said that the President did not have to enforce this law if he thought the law was unconstitutional. This statement is shocking. Under our system, the courts, and only the courts, have the power to decide if a law is unconstitutional–not the President.
  • In a 2009 law review article, Kavanaugh said that a sitting President should be exempt from criminal prosecution and investigation, including questioning by prosecutors or defense counsel. This means a President would not even have to answer questions about possible crimes while he is in office. He would effectively be above the law. This is dangerous for our country.

We’re worried about Brett Kavanaugh’s disregard of women’s reproductive rights and his opposition to valuable consumer and environmental protections and workers’ rights. We’re also troubled by Kavanaugh’s willingness to shield a sitting President from investigation into his possible crimes. For these reasons, we’re asking the Senator to vote against this nomination to the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh is unsuitable for this appointment and he should be rejected.

Download “Brett Kavanaugh–Talking Points Memo” in PDF here.

More Information:

— Report on Brett Kavanaugh, Vetting Room

— “How Brett Kavanaugh Will Gut Roe v. Wade,” Slate

— “Where Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh stands on key issues,” CNN

— Letter against nomination by Yale Law School students and alumni, Newsweek

— “Brett Kavanaugh’s Journey to Becoming a Supreme Court Nominee,” New Yorker

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