Major Catholic Magazine Pulls Endorsement Of Kavanaugh, American Bar Association Calls For FBI Investigation

The American Bar Association has called for a halt to Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court. The ABA had previously given Kavanaugh unanimous approval, but now believes he should not be immediately appointed. Separately, a leading Catholic magazine has retracted its endorsement of Kavanaugh.

“The basic principles that underscore the Senate’s constitutional duty of advice and consent on federal judicial nominees require nothing less than a careful examination of the accusations and facts by the FBI,” ABA President Robert Carlson said in a letter sent to Senators Chuck Grassley and Dianne Feinstein, the senior members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Each appointment to our nation’s Highest Court (as with all others) is simply too important to rush to a vote,” the letter went on. “Deciding to proceed without conducting additional investigation would not only have a lasting impact on the Senate’s reputation, but it will also negatively affect the great trust necessary for the American people to have in the Supreme Court.”

Meanwhile, America, a major magazine for Roman Catholics in the United States has retracted its endorsement of Brett Kavanaugh. America is a Jesuit magazine and Kavanaugh attended a Jesuit school, Georgetown Prep. It is clear the magazine’s decision is due to accusations made by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Kavanaugh’s denials.

“Evaluating the credibility of these competing accounts is a question about which people of good will can and do disagree. The editors of this review have no special insight into who is telling the truth,” the editorial board wrote.

“We continue to support the nomination of judges according to such principles—but Judge Kavanaugh is not the only such nominee available,” the editorial said. “For the good of the country and the future credibility of the Supreme Court in a world that is finally learning to take reports of harassment, assault and abuse seriously, it is time to find a nominee whose confirmation will not repudiate that lesson.”

This news will likely sting Brett Kavanaugh. Just yesterday, he cited the American Bar Association’s endorsement while defending himself from accusations of sexual assault. He is also a Catholic who attended a Catholic school. Losing an endorsement from the country’s only weekly Catholic magazine is not good for his reputation with US Catholics.

UPDATE: The ABA clarified that while it was not changing its rating on Kavanaugh despite the letter Carlson sent to the Judiciary Committee.