More than 100 students, alumni, and faculty at Yale College have endorsed Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court, lauding President Trump’s nominee as a “distinguished jurist” with “deep conviction and integrity.”
“Judge Kavanaugh is eminently qualified to serve as a Supreme Court justice,” the students, alumni, and faculty said in a letter sent Wednesday. “Judge Kavanaugh, a graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School, is one of our nation’s most distinguished jurists. In his twelve years of service on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, he has demonstrated a principled approach to interpreting the law. He has reached legal conclusions free of political partisanship. Judge Kavanaugh has devoted his professional life to upholding the rule of law and our Constitution.”
The members of the Yale community cited Kavanaugh’s involvement with his alma mater and the community in the D.C. area where he lives, and referenced statements of support from Yale professors, calling them a “breath of fresh air” in a polarized political environment.
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“We are proud of Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination, and believe his accomplishments and qualifications speak for themselves,” the letter states.
Joining the Yale students, alumni, and faculty in their support for Kavanaugh were a group of female former Yale students who sent a separate letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and ranking member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on Thursday.
“Brett treated us as friends and equals in all respects,” the women wrote. “Many of us played varsity sports at Yale. His appreciation of the importance of women’s athletics was impressive at that time. It clearly is something he has carried forward to the present day, with his years of coaching girls’ basketball teams and his raising two daughters who are enthusiastic athletes and sports fans.”
The 10 alumni attended Yale College with Kavanaugh and said they arrived on the New Haven, Conn., campus from “different walks of life” and “have taken different paths since college.”
“Our political viewpoints are as varied as our backgrounds and careers,” they wrote. “We are united in expressing our admiration and respect for our friend, Brett.”
Trump nominated Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in July after Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement, a move that kicked off a fiery confirmation battle.
Kavanaugh will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday for the first day of his confirmation hearing, which is expected to last four days.
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