Archived Opinion

Hold off on vote for new justice

Hold off on vote for new justice

To the Editor:

I am appalled that Sens. Thom Tillis and Richard Burr want to rush through any nominee for a Supreme Court position that this president puts forth under the current circumstances. I think it is an unconstitutional conflict of interest for a person who is under investigation for possible collusion with a foreign government (Russia) to influence his election and for other impeachable offenses to appoint the possible deciding vote in Supreme Court cases that can influence the ongoing investigation. There should be no confirmation hearing for any nominee, however “qualified”, until the investigations of Trump are over.

There will likely be several cases from the investigation that will test the very core of our democratic system of government and will decide whether “We The People” maintain our values of equal liberty and equal justice for all or we become a plutocracy of the wealthy, by the wealthy, for the wealthy. Critical cases on whether the president is above the law or not, worker’s rights, voting rights, religious freedom, access to free and equal education, healthcare, a clean environment and immigration policies that match our espoused values or promote ethnic cleansing. 

All of this is in addition to maintaining women’s rights to choose. Overturning Roe v Wade should not be the main litmus test of a seat on the Supreme Court when so many of our core democratic principles are at stake because there is nothing in Roe v Wade that prevents anti-abortion advocates from exercising their First Amendment rights to practice their beliefs.

I also find it appallingly undemocratic and a violation of our basic value of fairness that Republicans will use one set of rules when Democrats are making judicial nominations but use a different set of rules when it is Republicans doing the nominating. You know what I am talking about — blue slips honored vs. eliminated, 60 votes vs. 51 votes.

Of course Trump lost the popular election by 3 million plus votes and only won the electoral vote because of probably unconstitutional gerrymandering and voter suppression (something this nominee will help decide) in key Republican-controlled states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.  The fact that all of the potential nominees were selected by the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society means that they are ultra conservative or extremely conservative and not reflective of where America needs to be in the 21st Century. It will be a violation of your oath of office and a violation of your job description if you move forward with a vote on this nominee before the Mueller investigation is complete. Your constituents are watching whether you put country first or you vote for plutocracy and party power over “equality and justice for all.”

 Jane Harrison

Waynesville

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.