WASHINGTON –Today on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the process the Senate will take to fill this vacancy. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.
“Throughout her remarkable life, Justice Ginsburg fought to secure equal rights and opportunities for all. She was a champion of women’s rights in particular and broke down gender barriers throughout both her personal life and professional career.”
“During this difficult and often divisive time, I think there is a lot we can learn from the way Justice Ginsburg interacted with those with whom she disagreed.”
“Our friends on the other side of the aisle have tried to compare this to the vacancy in 2016, but the facts were different. At that point, we had a President of one party in his final year in office, and the Senate Majority of another party. You would literally have to go back to 1880 to find an example of the Senate confirming an opposite-party President’s Supreme Court nominee during an election year.”
“The other difference is President Obama was not on the ballot in 2016, so it made sense for the American people to weigh in. Do you think we would still be hearing the same arguments from our friends across the aisle if Hillary Clinton had become President and been able to nominate a successor to Justice Scalia? I think not.”
“Voters cast their ballots and not only elected President Trump but also a Senate Republican Majority, and in 2018, they expanded that Majority following the confirmation of Justice Kavanaugh. If the American people had elected a Democrat President and a Democratic Senate Majority, I have no doubt that Senator Schumer would act on that nomination as well.”
“Just as the Senate has always done, we will thoroughly review the qualifications and experience of whomever the President nominates. We should not rush that process. It should be conducted carefully and consistently with how the Senate has previously handled Supreme Court nominations. And when that process is complete, the Senate will vote on that nominee sometime this year.”
“In some cases, the confirmation process has moved quickly. In the case of Justice Ginsburg, she was confirmed in only 42 days. In others, the process has taken longer and been significantly more contentious. I hope our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will try to restrain themselves from repeating the smear campaign that took place during Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing.”