Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee - Opening Statement of Sen. Harris, Executive Bussiness Meeting

Hearing

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and I'd like to associate myself with my colleague's remarks. It is truly deeply troubling that we're moving forward with a nominee who has neither his home state senators' blue slips and neither of them, and who has misled the commission that was vetting him.

In addition, I think it's important to recognize that this is LGBTQ Pride Month--the month where we recognize and lift up many contributions of LGBTQ Americans.

It also serves, this month, as a reminder that we must continue to fight for the rights of LGBTQ individuals who have been marginalized and have faced discrimination for far too long simply because of who they are and who they love.

But despite the tremendous progress this country has made in recognizing equal rights for all Americans -- including LGBTQ Americans -- this Committee has approved many nominees who have fought against that progress at every step.

Everyone who comes before this Committee says that they will set aside their personal views and provide a fair hearing to those who stand before them.

But some of these nominees have extreme views and it is difficult to see how any LGBTQ American could reasonably believe that these nominees would give them a fair hearing.

For instance, we have had a nominee who argued that a judge's impartiality should be questioned because the judge is in a committed, same-sex relationship.

We have had another nominee who has repeatedly asserted that full marriage equality "imperils civic peace." That nominee is now a confirmed judge with a lifetime appointment.

We have had yet another nominee who expressed support for the county clerk in Kentucky who defied a federal court order by refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples after the Obergefell decision.

These are just a few of the nominees who have openly expressed hostility to the LGBTQ community and who have fought against full equality for LGBTQ Americans. And these are the same nominees who will likely preside over cases involving the rights of those Americans.

And it is a sad truth that showing hostility toward the LGBTQ community is not something that has disqualified individuals from becoming a nominee of this administration.

As this Committee knows, these lifetime appointees will make important decisions about the lives and opportunities of all Americans, including LGBTQ Americans for generations to come.

As evidenced by the Masterpiece Cakeshop case that was decided just this week.

And as this Committee knows in that case the Court ruled against the Colorado Civil Rights Commission because the Commission did not act as a neutral decision-maker for the plaintiff. At the same time, the decision reaffirmed that LGBTQ Americans are equal and should not be subject "to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market."

What is clear from that decision is that the LGBTQ community will have to continue to fight for equality. And that is a fight that we--as Americans who care about civil rights and equal dignity--must all join.

And that includes ensuring that our federal judiciary is not stacked with individuals who have shown hostility to any group of Americans, especially those who have dedicated their careers to undermining the equality of LGBTQ Americans.

This flood of extreme nominees is being rushed through and does not reflect the best principles of our system of justice. And this has to stop. I believe we can do better. Thank you.

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