Twenty-four Republican governors, including leaders from the Northern Marina Islands and Puerto Rico, have asked the U.S. Senate leadership to quickly confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky; Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York; Senate Judiciary Committee Chairperson Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina; and Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein, D-California, they express their support for a quick confirmation.
“As elected leaders of our states, we support a judicial philosophy like Judge Barrett’s that respects the roles of coequal branches of government and protects powers reserved to the states,” the letter states, even though state governors have no role in a Supreme Court justice nomination.
Barrett came before the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday.
Several southern and one western governor, all who signed the letter, had already expressed their support of Barrett.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said at a recent news conference, “I think Amy Coney Barrett is a highly qualified candidate.” He highlighted her connection to Tennessee– as a graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis.
“I believe she also … has a desire to uphold the principles that the vast majority of Tennesseans uphold, typically, regarding Second Amendment rights and the right to life,” Lee added. “I believe she is a highly qualified candidate, and I look forward to her swift confirmation.”
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster tweeted: “Amy Coney Barrett is an excellent choice by President [Donald Trump]. I’m confident she will serve on the Supreme Court with distinction – guided by the Constitution and the rule of law.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement and also tweeted,
“Judge Amy Coney Barrett is a remarkable individual who will make an outstanding Supreme Court Justice. Her proven legal brilliance is matched by her exceptional character and unflinching commitment to the U.S. Constitution.”
“President Trump could not have selected a more impressive nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court than Judge Amy Coney Barrett,” Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said. He added,
“A brilliant jurist and respected legal scholar, Judge Barrett has been unwavering in her commitment to Constitutional originalism. I enthusiastically join my fellow governors in calling on the U.S. Senate to promptly confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett.”
Signatories of the letter include: Abbott, Ducey, Lee, McMaster, Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama, Gov. Mike Dunleavy of Alaska, Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, Gov. Brain Kemp of Georgia, Gov. Brad Little of Idaho, Gov. Eric Holcomb of Indiana, Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi, Gov. Mike Parson of Missouri, Gov. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota, Gov. Ralph Tores of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands, Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio, Gov. Kevin Sitt of Oklahoma, Gov. Wanda Vazquez Garced of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Gov. Gary Herbert of Utah, Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia and Gov. Mark Gordon of Wyoming.
Four Republican governors did not sign the letter: Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, Massachusetts Gov. Charles Baker and Maryland Gov. Charles Baker.
Advertisement
Advertisement