Graves: Kavanaugh will base decisions on what the Founding Fathers had in mind

(From Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves)

Selecting a Supreme Court Justice is one of the most important decisions the President can make. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump announced his nominee to the Supreme Court selecting Judge Brett Kavanaugh to replace the retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy.

I said last week that it was critical that the nominee be a constitutional conservative who will uphold the rule of law and make decisions based on the direction our founders had in mind for this country. I believe that Judge Kavanaugh is perfect example of that kind of judge.

Judge Kavanaugh has a wealth of experience and a track record as a brilliant jurist. He clerked on the Supreme Court for Justice Kennedy, who he is poised to replace. He has served as a judge for over a decade on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and has authored more than 300 opinions. Judge Kavanaugh obviously knows and understands the Constitution and will hand down opinions based on that knowledge and a desire to interpret the law, not legislate from the bench like some activist judges.

Supreme Court decisions should be based on what’s actually in the Constitution and Judge Kavanaugh has a history of making decisions with that in mind. Important issues like the 2nd Amendment, the right to life and religious liberty are all foundational to this country; Judge Kavanaugh has a history of rulings that demonstrate he understands the freedoms we hold dear.

Judge Kavanaugh is respected not only for his legal credentials and knowledge but also his respect for people facing government overreach. He has rejected many onerous regulations that have threatened private citizens over the course of his career and I am greatly encouraged by that. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that the government needs to run every part of our lives. Unfortunately, before the announcement had even taken place, liberals had already declared that the yet-to-be-announced nominee was too extreme. I’m not surprised about the hysterics. . While it’s obvious that some members in the Senate are already contributing to the hysteria, I trust that the process will result in Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation.

Judge Kavanaugh’s commitment to uphold the Constitution, his conservative values, and his reputation as a brilliant jurist make him an excellent choice. I am confident that he will serve with distinction and I urge the Senate to act swiftly to confirm him to the Supreme Court.