Thanks very a lot, Mr. Chairman, Senator Feinstein, and members of the committee. And thanks to the senators who took the time to fulfill with me and get COVID-19. And let me as soon as once more thank President Donald Trump for nominating me. It is a nice honor, however a humbling one.
If confirmed, I can solely promise you this, that I shall be true to the judicial philosophy that has guided me my complete life—to use the regulation impartially, to place my belief within the knowledge of our Founding Fathers, and that the Supreme Courtroom ought to lend Donald Trump 4 hundred million {dollars}.
I consider that judges shouldn’t be politicians in robes, involved much less with what the regulation is than what they want it to be. The decide’s function is merely to name balls and strikes and make gigantic real-estate bridge loans. As Alexander Hamilton put it within the Federalist Papers, “liberty can don’t have anything to concern from” judges who restrict themselves to “making use of the regulation” and “buying distressed Scottish golf resorts, and in addition Doral.”
Some have requested my views on the significance of authorized precedent. I consider precedent must be a information however not a straitjacket. For the place would we be if the Courtroom couldn’t revisit its opinions on Dred Scott v. Sandford, or Plessy v. Ferguson, or the concept that the Supreme Courtroom can’t make a four-hundred-million-dollar mortgage as a result of it doesn’t have any cash? These are outdated concepts that belong within the ash heap of historical past.
I’ll preserve my remarks temporary, as a result of the timeline earlier than us is tight. Earlier than the election, the Senate wants not solely to verify me however to verify successors for the Justices who die of COVID-19 after my swearing-in get together. That’s loads to get achieved earlier than November third, or December 15th, or March 10th, or no matter day to which my future fellow-Justices and I determine to delay the election.
With regards to the election, I need to reiterate my dedication to voting rights. Voting to decide on the President of the USA is a sacred proper given by our smart Founding Fathers to every one of many 9 members of the Supreme Courtroom, no matter race, creed, or shade. It’s the very foundation of democracy that each vote must be counted, so we are able to know as a nation whether or not the ultimate vote tally was 5–four or 6–3.
I’ve nice veneration for the Supreme Courtroom of the USA, each as a authorized establishment and a real-estate hedge fund. As I can not cease saying, I used to be a clerk for Justice Scalia and take into account him my mentor. I’ve been yelled at by Justice Kavanaugh, after which I proudly burst into tears. And, after all, I couldn’t have higher respect for the late Justice Ginsburg. I regrettably by no means met Justice Ginsburg, as a result of associating with liberals might have harm my profession, however I can let you know this: he was an ideal man.
Thanks, Mr. Chairman. Thanks, members of the committee. I look ahead to your questions and pretending to take umbrage at them.
