We are now hearing bitter complaints of Republican hypocrisy and foul play in seeking the appointment of a Supreme Court Justice so soon after the parting of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
In searching the Constitution, I was unable to find a provision barring the appointment of judges during the last year of a presidential term. The president does not cease being president during an election year.
None of this turmoil should be happening. The Supreme Court should only be in the business of interpreting written law and determining constitutionality. It should not be the creators of new law – that’s the job of Congress, the elected policy makers.
Unfortunately, the Democrats rely on the Court to enact laws that the voting public would never support. It’s a strategy that has worked well in past years. This may soon end.
It’s apparent that Amy Coney Barrett, who currently serves as a circuit judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, will be our new justice. Think of A.C.B. instead of R.B.G. She’s a mother of seven and a Catholic. Let’s see what dirt the Democrats can create prior to the Senate confirmation hearings.
The bottom line with this is obvious to all but the most naive observer. If the circumstances were reversed, would the Democrats wait until after the election to choose a Supreme Court Justice?
Keep in mind that they were already talking about packing the court and abolishing the electoral system long before the news of R.B.G.’s departure. In Washington there is always plenty of hypocrisy to go around.
John Hammerel
Santa Barbara
