Would work well with his new colleagues.
Amar: His judicial record more relevant than his pre-judicial record.
Amar: Judges should not make promises about decisions or recusal.
Senate confirmation process flawed and should be changed.
Amar: Current confirmation process must be improved.
Distinguished Democrats: Don't be mad, be smart.
Amar: Fellow Democrats, if Kavanaugh torpedoed, might end up with someone worse.
Grassley -- question for McCloud -- most important characteristics of a S Ct justice?
McCloud agrees that Kavanaugh will work well with his colleagues.
Grassley asks Murray about Kavanaugh's approach to real people -- does he understand their problems?
Murray: He has been exposed to a wide range of people and would listen to people and hear their voices.
Grassley: Asks Olson what other members of legal profession say
Olson: Nothing but the highest praise.
His fellow judges all respect him and the lawyers who have appeared before him say he is open-minded and fair.
Grassley: Asks Sindzak asks how what he taught in class compares with how he judges
She responds that his good qualities appear in both roles -- open-mindedness and knowledge of the law.
Feinstein: Ms. Baker, America is like you. Ms Weintraub, you are so strong. Professor Murray, you are so cogent. I don't know if I've been before a panel with a majority of women, each of whom brought a different viewpoint.
Feinstein to Garza (guardian for Jane Doe): There's so much in how she was treated that I don't like. What did the Texas judge's order of approval say?
Garza: Order based on a best-interest assessment -- whether in Jane's best interest to proceed (it was).
Garza: In DC Circuit, the order was not in question.
Feinstein to Murray (NYU prof): Women have never historically been treated equal. Finally we got the vote and it began to change. I'm worried that Roe goes down. For what this meant for my generation, in 50s and 60s, when death toll estimated up to 1.2 million for illegal abortionists. That is inherent in this vote. Weapons are inherent in this vote.
Feinstein: How would you analyze this judge affecting those issues?
Murray: It's clear to me reading his opinions that he says he is following precedent, but that is not the case. In Garza, he did not even engage with Whole Woman's Health, the most recent precedent. He did not engage that at all.
Cruz, R-Texas, to Amar (Yale law prof)
Cruz: In your opinion, is Kavanaugh qualified?
Cruz: How would you compare to other nominees?
Kavanaugh: I might predict that he would rank well above average, in top tier of modern justices.
Cruz to Sinzdak (former student) -- asks about his personal qualities.
Cruz: You were part of legal team that brought challenge to Trump's so-called travel ban?
Cruz to Olson (former Bush SG): What was your experience with him?
Olson: We did not have a great deal of professional interaction.
Olson: But there were opportunities to see the kind of input he was providing. He was scrupulously balanced.
Cruz thanks Weintraub for her powerful example.
Klobuchar to Rep. Richmond: Can you elaborate on consequences of Shelby County? Is Section 2 of the VRA sufficient to protect voting rights?
Richmond: States chosen for preclearance were not chosen at random but by past history.
Richmond: In Georgia there was an attempt to close polling locations in African American locations in gubernatorial election with black candidate.
Klobuchar: What does future hold for gerrymandering?
Klobuchar references last term's decision in Abbott v Perez, a 5-4 decision rejecting a racial gerrymandering challenge in Texas.
Richmond: We are very concerned. What's important is ability to elect minority. Some minorities choose not to elect a minority. But with gerrymandering, we risk rolling back minority representation.
Baker: Jesus says I've come that you might have life to the fullest. I believe that birth control allows women to live best lives by allowing to pursue careers and have decisions about children.
Klobuchar: You are pro-life. You simply wanted to be able to afford contraception after you got married.
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