October 4, 2018

NYT Opinion: The Senate Should Not Confirm Kavanaugh. Signed, 650+ Law Professors (and Counting).

The following letter will be presented to the United States Senate on Oct. 4. It will be updated as more signatures are received.

Judicial temperament is one of the most important qualities of a judge. As the Congressional Research Service explains, a judge requires “a personality that is even-handed, unbiased, impartial, courteous yet firm, and dedicated to a process, not a result.” The concern for judicial temperament dates back to our founding; in Federalist 78, titled “Judges as Guardians of the Constitution,” Alexander Hamilton expressed the need for “the integrity and moderation of the judiciary.”

We are law professors who teach, research and write about the judicial institutions of this country. Many of us appear in state and federal court, and our work means that we will continue to do so, including before the United States Supreme Court. We regret that we feel compelled to write to you, our Senators, to provide our views that at the Senate hearings on Sept. 27, Judge Brett Kavanaugh displayed a lack of judicial temperament that would be disqualifying for any court, and certainly for elevation to the highest court of this land.

The question at issue was of course painful for anyone. But Judge Kavanaugh exhibited a lack of commitment to judicious inquiry. Instead of being open to the necessary search for accuracy, Judge Kavanaugh was repeatedly aggressive with questioners. Even in his prepared remarks, Judge Kavanaugh described the hearing as partisan, referring to it as “a calculated and orchestrated political hit,” rather than acknowledging the need for the Senate, faced with new information, to try to understand what had transpired. Instead of trying to sort out with reason and care the allegations that were raised, Judge Kavanaugh responded in an intemperate, inflammatory and partial manner, as he interrupted and, at times, was discourteous to senators.


https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/03/opinion/kavanaugh-law-professors-letter.html

October 2, 2018

Social Media can help Democrats: Check out these Twitter numbers I quickly pulled.

Florida Gov Race:

Andrew Gillum followers: 351,000

Ron DeSantis followers: 37,000


Florida Senate race:

Bill Nelson followers: 360,000

Rick Scott followers: 240,000 (And this is combined for two accounts he has)


Indiana Senate race:

Joe Donnelly followers: 109,000

Mike Braun followers: 8,000


Missouri Senate race:

Claire McCaskill followers: 450,000

Josh Hawley: followers 21,000 (Again, this is combined for two accounts he has)

This is only a small sample of competitive races, but it continues access the board. Democrats are having significantly social media presences than their opponents, which can be huge for turnout.

October 2, 2018

I live in redder than red Elkhart County Indiana...and the support for Donnelly here is unreal.

Here's your optimistic post from me today.

My drive to work is about 20 minutes, and on the way every day, there are 5 houses with Joe Donnelly signs in their front yard. One house I pass has a Mike Braun sign. Five-to-one. I'm not driving through the city either, these are rural areas I'm passing through.

I'm also my precinct chair and spend time on Saturday's canvassing for the Donnelly campaign. It was my first year getting actively involved, and I've been amazed at the number of Democrats meet when canvassing who say they've never voted in midterms before, but are sure as hell going to vote for Donnelly this November.

Just thought I'd let everyone know. Happy Tuesday!