Hero or Villain? Trump’s court pick is in for a fight
It's likely to become the most turbulent confirmation fight for a
A look at the ammunition both sides will use ahead of the vote in the
HIS INSIDER STATUS
President
The 53-year-old Yale-educated appellate court judge was born in
Kavanaugh still lives in the D.C. area, raising his kids in the
That insider status can help Kavanaugh win over the
Both sides will be poring over Kavanaugh's some 300 legal opinions in his 12 years as a judge for the
WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND ABORTION
There's a record number of women raising their hands for public office in recent months, putting a focus on female empowerment in an era of #MeToo.
That may have been on Kavanaugh's mind late Monday when the federal judge seemed to go out of his way to praise his "inspiring" wife and "spirited" daughters, and told the story of his mother, a teacher-turned-prosecutor who "overcame barriers" to become a trial judge.
"I am proud that a majority of my law clerks have been women," Kavanaugh added.
But
In his 2006 confirmation hearing to become a federal judge, Kavanaugh told the
At the
Kavanaugh disappointed social conservatives in a 2017 case involving a pregnant teenage immigrant in federal custody who wanted an abortion. He supported releasing the girl to a sponsor, where she could obtain an abortion if she chose to do so and leave the government out of it.
HEALTH
If
The focus is on GOP Sens.
One case likely to draw attention is Kavanaugh's 2015 dissenting opinion on the health care law's contraceptives mandate. Kavanaugh sided with a religious group that objected to having to notify their insurer or the federal government if they wanted an exemption.
The Affordable Care Act is "wildly popular and necessary in the reddest of states," said Senate Democratic Leader
"If the American people come to believe this court would overturn women's reproductive freedom and the ACA, we would get a majority of votes," he added.
PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY
This issue may not get as much buzz as abortion or health care, but it's probably the one that's directly relevant to Trump. The president has faced allegations of sexual harassment and remains under investigation for obstruction of justice in the
In 2009, Kavanaugh floated the idea that presidents should be immune from criminal and civil charges while in office because of the pressures of leading the nation.
"If the President does something dastardly, the impeachment process is available," Kavanaugh wrote.
That line of thinking would be useful to Trump, who is unlikely to face impeachment so long as
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