Commentary: By a razor-thin margin, the U.S. Senate today confirmed Brett Kavanaugh to serve as an associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings ended with gripping testimony from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who shared under oath heart-wrenching and vivid memories of her sexual assault at the hands of Kavanaugh when they were high school students.
The following is a statement from NEA President Lily Eskelsen García:
“From the outset, it was clear that Judge Kavanaugh would not be the fair-minded jurist needed on the Supreme Court. The Senate confirmation process has only further demonstrated that he lacks the qualifications and temperament to hold one of the most powerful positions in our government. Judge Kavanaugh is simply unfit to serve on the highest court of the land. We must now hope that he can find the impartiality and necessary disposition needed to serve the nation as a Supreme Court justice.”
“The message sent by Senate Republicans to the nation, and in particular to our children, was loud and clear: It is acceptable to appoint a hyper-partisan justice who is beholden to the White House. It is acceptable to disregard the stories of sexual assault survivors. It is acceptable to disregard dishonesty under oath. Well, educators know that these things are never acceptable. There is only one thing left to do for those of us who share disappointment in this moment: vote.”
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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers. Learn more at www.nea.org.