New York, New York – In light of recent sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. President and Director-Counsel Sherrilyn Ifill renewed LDF’s call for the Senate Judiciary Committee to postpone its upcoming confirmation vote in the following statement:
“It is critical that the Senate Judiciary Committee take seriously the very troubling allegations about the past conduct of Judge Kavanaugh. This means, first and foremost, ensuring that Professor Ford is treated with dignity and respect, and working on a bipartisan basis to identify a process by which these allegations can be investigated and fairly evaluated.
“This revelation underscores what we have said since his nomination was first announced: that the consideration of a jurist for a lifetime appointment to this nation’s highest court demands a thorough, transparent, and impartial vetting process.
“Instead at every turn, the Senate Majority has shown disdain for the constitutional obligation to carefully evaluate Judge Kavanaugh to serve on the Supreme Court. Chairman Grassley denied the full Committee the opportunity to vet Judge Kavanaugh’s complete record and set a schedule designed to push through the process as quickly as possible. Even more disturbing, the Chair refused to release large portions of Kavanaugh’s record, arbitrarily and unilaterally deeming documents confidential that might raise concerns about Kavanaugh’s record and ignoring clear Senate rules in order to push this nomination forward. This process has been badly mismanaged.
“Professor Ford has shown great courage in sharing her story, and basic decency—along with the integrity of the confirmation process—dictate that her allegations be taken seriously. We once again urge all Senators to fulfill their Constitutional duty to advise and consent on this nominee by halting the rush to confirmation. This begins with postponing this week’s scheduled vote of the Senate Judiciary Committee.”
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Founded in 1940, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization and has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or LDF.
