WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today delivered the following opening remarks during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.
“The Senate Judiciary Committee undertakes no more important duty than the one we undertake today.”
“Throughout your impressive career, you have earned the respect of those who share your views on the law as well as those who do not.”
“Folks with widely different judicial philosophies agree that you are brilliant, respectful, kind, and when you disagree, you do so without personal rancor or malice.”
“What our colleagues on the other side of the aisle put Justice Kavanaugh through two years ago was an absolute disgrace and hopefully a low point for the Senate. They, and some of their allies, sought to destroy the personal character of a good man with innuendo, misinformation, and outright lies. I hope they resist the temptation to repeat that during this hearing. I do remain concerned, Judge, about some of the earlier attacks on your faith.”
“Democrats on and off the committee want a real fight. Let me be clear, Judge, as you know there is no religious test to serve on the Supreme Court. Why? Because the Constitution says so and I can only hope that the civility that you’ve shown through your professional work will be afforded to you through these proceedings.”
“They have said that if this confirmation proceeds they intend to pack the Court with more Justices who will turn the Supreme Court into a genuine second legislative body. We heard what Justice Ginsburg had to say about that. That would be a terrible mistake.”
“I’m confident that at the end of this process, you will be confirmed to the United States Supreme Court.”