Sen. Cruz: ‘Judge Kavanaugh Is One of the Most Respected Federal Judges in the Country, and I Look Forward to Supporting His Nomination’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following President Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) expressed his support and expectations for the Senate to swiftly confirm Judge Kavanaugh. Sen. Cruz appeared on KTRH’s ‘The Michael Berry Show,’ where he said Judge Kavanaugh “is one of the most distinguished and respected judges in the country.” 

“[Brett Kavanaugh] is by any measure one of the most respected federal judges in the country and I fully expect that Judge Kavanaugh will be confirmed and will be confirmed this fall.”

He continued, highlighting Judge Kavanaugh’s record defending the separation of powers, religious liberty, and the Second Amendment.

“One of the advantages of Judge Kavanaugh is that he’s got a record of a decade-plus on the federal Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit,” Sen. Cruz said. “The D.C. Circuit has long been described as the second highest court in the land and he’s got over 300 opinions that can be reviewed and you can assess his record. There are a number of areas where his record is quite strong. He has a strong record defending the separation of powers, which is a critically important Constitutional principle that safeguards our liberty. He has a strong record working to reign in the excesses of federal agencies and excess authority for federal agencies to disregard statutes passed by Congress. He has a good record on the Second Amendment and on religious liberty, so there’s much to like in Judge Kavanaugh’s record. And by any measure, he is one of the most distinguished and respected judges in the country.” 

Audio from Sen. Cruz’s interview with Michael Berry may be found here.

Several news outlets covered his remarks on the nomination. Selected news coverage is below:

Dallas Morning News: Trump picks Brett Kavanaugh for Supreme Court, setting up epic battle in bid to shift court to the right
“President Donald Trump named Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court on Monday night, a nomination that could shift the court's ideological center for a generation. […] ‘Judge Kavanaugh is a serious nominee,’ Cruz said. ‘By any measure, Judge Kavanaugh is one of the most respected federal judges in the country,’ with a long record on the nation's second most powerful court. ‘He has a record that is distinguished with regard to separation of powers... the unchecked power of federal agencies ... the Second Amendment and ... religious liberty.’ Cruz issued a statement two hours later making his support more explicit. ‘I look forward to supporting his nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States.’” 

Townhall: Texas Senators Show Support for SCOTUS Nominee Brett Kavanaugh
“Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) said he is confident that SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh is the best choice to fill the vacant seat left by Justice Anthony Kennedy. ‘By any measure, Judge Kavanaugh is one of the most respected federal judges in the country and I look forward to supporting his nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States,’ Cruz said. ‘For over a decade, Judge Kavanaugh has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, often referred to as the second highest court in the land. He has over 300 published opinions, with a strong record of defending the Second Amendment, safeguarding the separation of powers, reining in the unchecked power of federal agencies, and preserving our precious religious liberties.’ However, Cruz also said that Senate Democrats will try to ‘demagogue this nomination, but their efforts will not be successful.’” 

KXXV: (VIDEO) Senator Cruz Speaks on Kavanaugh Nomination
“Senator Ted Cruz also issued a statement in support of Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination, which reads in part, ‘As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I look forward to his confirmation hearing, where Judge Kavanaugh will have the opportunity to demonstrate to the American people that he will uphold the rule of law and interpret the Constitution according to its original meaning.’” 

KAMR: (VIDEO) Sen. Cruz's Statement in Support of Kavanaugh SCOTUS Nomination
“Senator Ted Cruz released a statement in support of President Trump’s nominee. He says, ‘I am confident that the Senate will take up his nomination quickly, and I fully expect that he will be confirmed before the first Monday in October, the beginning of the Supreme Court’s Term.’”

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