Source:
https://scmp.com/comment/letters/article/2166189/brett-kavanaughs-moral-failings-should-disqualify-him-us-supreme Letters
Brett Kavanaugh’s moral failings should disqualify him from the US Supreme Court
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is sworn in at his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in Washington on September 4. Photo: Bloomberg
Before the spectre of a history of sexual assault was raised with regard to US President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, many of the objections raised against him were trivial to the point of silliness. However, now three women have come forward accusing him of sexual assault.
On Friday, a senate judiciary committee heard testimony from university professor Christine Blasey Ford, who says that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers. Kavanaugh also testified, denying the allegations.
Besides, Kavanaugh has been criticised for his role in cases involving the detention of non-US citizens at Guantanamo Bay following the September 11 attacks.
It’s understandable that the Democrats would give Kavanaugh a hard time even without the scandals surrounding him simply because he has been nominated by Trump. But are Senate Republicans willing to support him unconditionally? I doubt it.
Conventional wisdom says that if justice is a priority, those at the helm of any judicial system should be expected to embody the very highest standards of morality.
In Hong Kong, Justice Secretary Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah was roundly criticised and pressured to step down for having illegal structures at her homes. Cheng’s failing pales in comparison to Kavanaugh’s scandal.
Even if the senate judiciary committee votes to confirm Kavanaugh, I do not believe his troubles are over. In fact, he may well regret having Trump’s blessings.
Randy Lee, Ma On Shan