Judge Kavanaugh: ‘A Superstar’

Lisa Blatt, A ‘Liberal Democrat’ Who Has ‘Argued 35 Cases Before The Supreme Court,’ Introduced Judge Kavanaugh At His Hearing

LISA BLATT, head of Supreme Court practice for Arnold & Porter:  “I am here today to introduce Judge Kavanaugh and urge the Senate to confirm him as the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.  I’ve received angry calls from friends and even strangers for supporting Judge Kavanaugh.  But I was raised to call it like I see it, and I don’t see the choice before you as difficult.” (U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 9/04/2018)

• LISA BLATT: “I know Judge Kavanaugh in my capacity as an appellate lawyer here in Washington. I have argued 35 cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, more than any other woman in history. I am also a liberal Democrat … My hero is Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, for whom I had the great fortune of serving as a law clerk. I proudly voted for Hillary Clinton. I voted twice for President Obama.” (U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 9/04/2018)

• LISA BLATT: “I would urge this Committee to treat Judge Kavanaugh as we would expect him to treat litigants before him:  on his own merits, and with an open mind towards someone whose views may differ from their own…. At the end of the day, I enthusiastically support Judge Kavanaugh, and I am proud to introduce him, because he is unquestionably qualified by his extraordinary intellect, experience, and temperament, and he easily fits within the mainstream of legal thought.” (U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 9/04/2018)

Former Lawyer For President Clinton: ‘Brett Is The Most Qualified Person Any Republican President Could Possibly Have Nominated,’ ‘I Urge The Senate To Confirm Him With Bipartisan Support’

ROBERT S. BENNETT, Former Clinton Lawyer: “Judge Brett Kavanaugh would be an extraordinary Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. I urge the Senate to confirm him with bipartisan support.” (Robert S. Bennett, Letter to Sens. Grassley and Feinstein, 8/28/2018)

• BENNETT: “Brett is the most qualified person any Republican President could possibly have nominated. Were the Senate to fail to confirm Brett, it would not only mean passing up the opportunity to confirm a great jurist, but it would also undermine civility in politics twice over: first in playing politics with such an obviously qualified nominee, and then again in losing the opportunity to put such a strong advocate for decency and civility on our Nation’s highest court.” (Robert S. Bennett, Letter to Sens. Grassley and Feinstein, 8/28/2018)

• BENNETT: “Unsurprisingly, his even-handedness during oral argument translates into a steady stream of balanced and thoughtful opinions. Brett is widely respected by liberals and conservatives alike as independent, smart, experienced, and nuanced. When he writes an opinion, people pay attention. They know that Brett is a ‘judge’s judge,’ someone doing his absolute best to follow the law rather than his policy preferences. And even when Brett rules against parties, they know he gave them a fair hearing and thoughtful explanation for his position.” (Robert S. Bennett, Letter to Sens. Grassley and Feinstein, 8/28/2018)

• BENNETT: “After getting to know him well over many years, I have learned that his outstanding reputation from the Starr years onwards is, if anything, understated: Brett is an all-star in both his professional and his personal life.” (Robert S. Bennett, Letter to Sens. Grassley and Feinstein, 8/28/2018)

Former Obama Administration Solicitors General: ‘He Carries Out All Phases Of His Responsibilities As A Judge … In An Exemplary Way,’ ‘Very Hard For Anyone Who’s Worked With Him, Appeared Before Him, To Frankly Say A Bad Word About Him’

NEAL KATYAL, Former Obama Administration Solicitor General: “I think it’s very hard for anyone who’s worked with [Judge Kavanaugh], appeared before him, to frankly say a bad word about him. I mean this is a[n] incredibly brilliant, careful person … [H]e’s legendary for his preparation … Judge Kavanaugh reads every one of those [Supreme Court] opinions, sits down with his clerks on Fridays and goes through them. Each one. Every single opinion.” (“Scholars & Scribes Review the Rulings: The Supreme Court's 2017-2018 Term,” The Heritage Foundation, 7/10/2018)

DONALD VERRILLI Jr., Former Obama Administration Solicitor General: “Judge Kavanaugh is a brilliant jurist and he’s a very gracious person, both on the bench and off. I recently had an oral argument in front of Judge Kavanaugh and two other members of the D.C. Circuit back a few months ago, in which he asked a whole lot of very intense, very incisive questions, which is his wont. But I think he carries out all phases of his responsibilities as a judge in the way you’d want, in an exemplary way.” (“Legal Speak” Podcast, 7/13/2018)

• VERRILLI: “[H]e’s a distinguished jurist by any measure …” (“Legal Speak” Podcast, 7/13/2018)

Yale Law School Professors: ‘It Is Hard To Name Anyone With Judicial Credentials As Strong As Those Of Judge Kavanaugh,’ ‘An Incomparable Mentor--Someone Who Picks Law Clerks Of All Backgrounds And Viewpoints; And A Fair-Minded Jurist Who Believes In The Rule Of Law’

AKHIL REED AMAR, Yale Law School Professor: “In 2016, I strongly supported Hillary Clinton for president … But today … it is hard to name anyone with judicial credentials as strong as those of Judge Kavanaugh. He sits on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (the most influential circuit court) and commands wide and deep respect among scholars, lawyers and jurists.” (Akhil Reed Amar, Op-Ed, “A Liberal’s Case for Brett Kavanaugh,” 7/09/2018)

• AMAR: “Good appellate judges faithfully follow the Supreme Court; great ones influence and help steer it. Several of Judge Kavanaugh’s most important ideas and arguments … have found their way into Supreme Court opinions.” (Akhil Reed Amar, Op-Ed, “A Liberal’s Case for Brett Kavanaugh,” 7/09/2018)

• AMAR: “Most judges are not scholars or even serious readers of scholarship. Judge Kavanaugh, by contrast, has taught courses at leading law schools and published notable law review articles. More important, he is an avid consumer of legal scholarship. He reads and learns. And he reads scholars from across the political spectrum.” (Akhil Reed Amar, Op-Ed, “A Liberal’s Case for Brett Kavanaugh,” 7/09/2018)

ABBE R. GLUCK, Yale Law Professor and former special counsel to former Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ): “Brett Kavanaugh is a true intellectual--a leading thinker and writer on the subjects of statutory interpretation and federal courts; an incomparable mentor--someone who picks law clerks of all backgrounds and viewpoints; and a fair-minded jurist who believes in the rule of law.  He is humble, collegial and cares deeply about the federal courts.” (“Brett Kavanaugh ’90 Nominated to U.S. Supreme Court,” YLS Today, Yale Law School Website, 7/09/2018)