The Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson have concluded and it’s looking like the votes will be there for a final confirmation, but senators’ questions are still being answered in written form.
Here’s one of Judge Jackson’s written answers to a question from Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, and it’s about natural rights:
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson testifies: "I do not hold a position on whether individuals possess natural rights." (From response to post-hearing written questions.) pic.twitter.com/NwH9vjsTLr
— Ed Whelan (@EdWhelanEPPC) April 1, 2022
“I do not hold a position on whether individuals possess natural rights.”
Here's the link to KBJ's written responses: https://t.co/2vlzV3WzY9
Her statement that she has no position on whether individuals possess natural rights is on 79th page (in answer to question 16 from Senator Cruz).
— Ed Whelan (@EdWhelanEPPC) April 1, 2022
That’s certainly going to catch the attention of Sen. Cruz and many others.
That’s disqualifying.
— America First (@America00983474) April 1, 2022
An instant no vote. Right here. Argue her poor sentencing record all you want, but having no position on rights being natural? Keep this woman far, far away from SCOTUS. https://t.co/TLvT8phMJl
— The🐰FOO (@PolitiBunny) April 2, 2022
Every junior high student knows "that we are endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights."
— Dan Roth (@Dan12R) April 2, 2022
Have we gone from “I’m not a biologist” to “I’m not a constitutional exp… oh wait” already?
WTF???? And she (but I am not a biologist) is supposed to defend the Constitution https://t.co/FIFIZXEffi
— USMC3048 (@drabyUSMC) April 2, 2022
The entire foundation of our system of government is the existence of natural rights. That’s why we have a Bill of Rights.
How the hell can a judge who doesn’t hold that truth be to self-evident possibly serve on a Supreme Court that adjudicates those rights? https://t.co/MQhN7WIQAD
— Hammerjack (@MarcGiller) April 2, 2022
How do you enforce the bill of rights if you don’t know if natural rights exist. https://t.co/o9eiYqWckI
— Kween Josie of all the Liberty (@KweenJosie) April 2, 2022
Here’s the text that includes a related question:
16. Do you hold a position on whether individuals possess natural rights, yes or no?
RESPONSE: I do not hold a position on whether individuals possess natural rights.
a. If yes, what is your position?RESPONSE: Please see my response to Question 16.
17. Please articulate your understanding of the distinction between natural law and positive law, and state whether you consider each to be relevant to the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, congressional power, or federal law?
RESPONSE: I understand natural law to refer to principles derived from nature that govern human conduct. I understand positive law to refer to enacted legal texts, such as the Constitution, federal statutes, and treaties. I interpret federal law according to the methods of interpretation employed by the Supreme Court, including by resolving cases or controversies based on the text at issue, any pertinent history, and any applicable precedent.
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