A relaunched network of Latino leaders railed this week against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh over his approach to issues important to the Hispanic community.
“It is imperative that every nominee to serve as a justice be completely vetted for their understanding of the Latino experience with discrimination in the United States," said Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican-American Legal Defense Fund, in a call with reporters on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, some of Judge Kavanaugh’s published views indicate a dangerous potential belief in a manufactured and unsupported construction of a hierarchy-of-rights holders,” Saenz said, added that noncitizens are particularly vulnerable to discriminatory interpretations of the Constitution.
HFJ wrote a letter Friday to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley
Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleySenate Democrats take step toward vote on overturning Trump's payroll-tax deferral Trump payroll tax deferral finds few takers among businesses Democrats flubbed opportunity to capitalize on postal delays MORE (R-Iowa) and ranking member Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Emiel FeinsteinHillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts Overnight Defense: US sanctions ICC prosecutor amid probe of alleged US war crimes in Afghanistan | Senators urge Pentagon to keep Stars and Stripes running MORE (D-Calif.) asking them to select witnesses for Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings who will "ensure that the voices and perspectives of America’s Latinos are at the table."
"Judge Kavanaugh’s opinions in various cases during his tenure on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals raise questions about his approach to the law and the adverse impact that his approach would have on Latinos and other communities of color that seek equal justice in our courts," HFJ wrote in the letter.
Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings are expected to begin next month.
HFJ members said the Supreme Court will soon be presented with cases focused on issues that disproportionately affect Latinos: the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers, voting rights, workers' rights and access to health care.
The group also highlighted Kavanaugh's record on abortion rights and the permanence of Roe v. Wade.
"We can’t forget Kavanaugh was selected from a pre-vetted list of candidates that will overturn Roe v. Wade,” said Maria Carmona, one of HFJ's founders and a CNN correspondent, in Thursday’s press call. “We must do all we can to ensure our community is aware of this.”
Trump nominated Kavanaugh last month to fill the seat occupied by Justice Anthony Kennedy, who retired on July 31.
