Pandemic that has already claimed more than 225,000 american lives. We are 00 mere eight days away we are a mere eight days a away from a president ial election. Donald trump announced his nomination of judge barrett even before we could fully mourn the death of the great Justice Ruth Bader ginsburg. And Senate Republicans then rushed this nomination to the senate floor. In doing so, they violated the rule that their leader, Mitch Mcconnell, imposed in 2016 which kept Merrick Garland off the Supreme Court after president obama nominated him in february of that year to fill the vacancy that arose with the death of justice antonin scalia. That rule was clear. That rule was concise. That rule was definitive. The senate would not consider a nomination to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court during a president ial election year. Many of my republican colleagues echoed leader mcconnells pledge. In fact, my colleague, senator Lindsey Graham, who chairs the judiciary committee, admonished us to
The presiding officer the senator from missouri. Mr. Hawley madam president , some months ago, in july of this year, i came to this floor shortly after the conclusion of the Supreme Courts most recent term to lament the ongoing judicial activism, the judicial imperialism that we have seen from this court over this past term and from the Supreme Court for years on end. I quoted the late Justice Scalia who said the imperial judiciary lives, and i said on the floor of this senate it was a shame to say but undeniable that the imperial judiciary continued to live in this country, a judiciary intent, a Supreme Court intent on legislating from the bench, on making up laws that went along with no regard for what the people actually wrote in their statutes or in their laws, and i particularly lamented the position of religious conservatives, people of faith who had seen in this past term for the United States Supreme Court decision after decision, tossing aside the concerns of religious conserv
The presiding officer pursuant to rule 4, paragraph 2, the senate having been in continuous session, the senate will suspend for a prayer from the senate chaplain. The chaplain let us pray. Holy god, as our lawmakers strive on this decisive day in history to accomplish your purposes, show them how to discern your will. May they renew their minds through the in yourishment of your an hourishment of your holly word. Lord, prepare them to be sober minded and filled with your spirit, accomplishing the tasks that receive your approval. Lord, keep them from conforming to worldly impulses, as they strive to ensure that their conduct will rightly represent you. May they conduct themselves with holiness, godliness, and civility, waiting for the day when you will return to establish your kingdom on earth. Lord, prepare us all to stand before you in peace without spot or blemish. We pray in your powerful name. Amen. Mr. Lee mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from utah. Mr. Lee mr. P
Judge barretts actual credentials or qualifications has hardly featured and it. Democratic leader summarized his view yesterday, he said it is not about qualifications. His words. Instead, our mechanic colleagues have tried to claim the senate process itself is not legitimate. Are supposed to lay radicalrk for institution wrecking changes down the road. But of course they are not true. We live in a constitutional republic. The legitimacy of an outcome does not depend on the feelings it provokes and politicians. Let me say that again. The legitimacy of an outcome does not depend on the feelings it provokes in politicians. Precedentscomes from , rules and ultimately the constitution. Restate a few facts for posterity. There is no inconsistency between the republican senates decision in 2016 and our decision to confirm judge barrett this year. Here is what i said in my very first floor speeches following scalia,h of justice quoting myself. The senate has not filled a vacancy arising in an
Our recent debates have been heated, but curiously, talk of judge merricks actual credentials or qualifications has hardly featured judge merricks actual credentials or qualifications have early ttsured judge barre actual credentials have rarely featured. They have tried to claim the process itself is not legitimate. These claims are supposed to lay groundwork for radical institution wrecking changes down the road. But of course, they are not true. We live in a constitutional republic. The legitimacy of an outcome does not depend on the feelings it provokes in politicians. Let me say that again. The legitimacy of an outcome does not depend on the feelings it provokes in politicians. Legitimacy comes from precedents, rules, and ultimately, the constitution, so lets restate a few facts for posterity. There is no inconsistency between the republican senators decision in 2016 and our decision to confirm judge barrett this year. Heres what i said in my very first floor speech following the