Page 27 - CLT061421

NEWS JUNE 14, 2021 ■ 27
you’re presented with various dis- about the nominees’ backgrounds,
crete claims one at a time and I saying he thought it was appro-
have, as I said, a lot of experience priate to ask about past writings
learning new issues and figuring and that those conversations were
out how to address the law that “Certainly I have, as I said, “handled the right way.”
applies to a particular case,” Lee no specific experience in “It should be viewed within the
said. “Certainly I have, as I said, most of those topics that totality of grace, of the under-
no specific experience in most of you raised. But I am very standing of grace and that all of us
those topics that you raised. But I confident in my ability evolve,” Booker added.
am very confident in my ability to to get up to speed and The Senate Judiciary Commit-
get up to speed and to handle the to handle the cases that tee on Wednesday also considered
cases that come before me.” come before me,” said one three nominees for seats in the
Two more Republican senators, Western District of Washington:
John Kennedy of Louisiana and nominee in response to the David Estudillo, Lauren King and
Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Republican questioning. Tana Lin. Lin in particular faced
also pressed Lee and Rossman questions from Republicans about
about their judicial philosophies. her work with the ACLU of Wash-
But when the nominees each said ington state, as well as a letter she
they did not have a specific phi- signed critical of Trump’s attacks
losophy, whether it be originalism, textualism or on a federal judge who blocked a travel ban for those
otherwise, the senators rejected those assertions. from several predominantly Muslim countries.
“I can’t vote for you if I don’t know how you’re Grassley compared Trump’s slight toward that
going to—what approach you’re going to use to in- judge to the recent backlash another federal judge
terpret the United States Constitution,” Kennedy is facing for striking down California’s assault weap-
said. “And I don’t believe for a second you both ons ban. Lin said she signed the letter “because I
haven’t thought about it.” think that the impartiality and independence of the
Republicans had also raised questions about a judiciary is a bedrock of our judicial system.”
letter to the editor Lee had written for her college All of those district court nominees would
newspaper while she was a student at Ohio State bring diversity to that court. Estudillo is Hispan-
University, in which she criticized Justice Clarence ic, Lin would be the first Asian American judge
Thomas for describing his confirmation hearing as a to sit on that bench, and King—who has worked
“high-tech lynching” and suggested he didn’t believe extensively on Native American and tribal is-
racism was “much of an obstacle to black success.” sues—would be the third currently sitting Native
Under questioning from Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, American federal judge. ■
Lee—the nominee—said the letter “does not reflect
the views that I have today.” Jacqueline Thomsen, based in Washington, is a re-
Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, later acknowl- porter covering D.C. federal courts and the legal
edged that line of questioning, as well as other side of politics. Contact her at [email protected]
questions from Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, and follow her on Twitter @jacq_thomsen.

Looking for an accomplished experts?

ALMEperts.com

CONNECTICUT
Law Tribune