Wed 4/6 @ 7:30PM
The discussion series at the Happy Dog known as Happy Dog Takes on the World takes on a topic that’s been increasingly rancorous in the last six years: “Happy Dog Takes on the SCOTUS Nomination.”
Ever since President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to fill the seat left by Antonin Scalia’s death in February 2016 and Senate leader Mitch McConnell made up a rule that it was too close to the November election even to meet with Garland, the court’s credibility has plummeted. The seat was filled by Trump nominee Neil Gorsuch.
When Anthony Kennedy resigned in 2018, Trump got to fill another seat with Brett Kavanaugh, whose ranting, tearful performance in at the confirmation hearings didn’t show much “judicial temperament.” In addition, his work record in the Bush administration was never made available for perusal and tips to back up Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s charge that he assaulted her as a teenager were never investigated.
Then things got even worse. When Ruth Bader Ginsburg died in September 2020, less than eight weeks before the presidential election that would see Joe Biden ushered into office, McConnell broke his own “rule” and rushed the lightly qualified Amy Coney Barrett onto the court eight days before the election.
Now another seat has opened due to the retirement of Stephen Breyer and Preisdnt Biden has nominated the stunningly qualified Ketanji Brown Jackson who would be the first Black woman on the court. The Republicans in the Senate have made a circus of the hearings, revealing overt racism and misogyny. Jackson has revealed her a poise, calm and directness that’s the polar opposite of the angry, red-faced self-pitying of Kavanaugh.
And we haven’t even gotten to the latest revelations about Ginni Thomas, the wife and “best friend” of Justice Clarence Thomas, and her role in trying to overthrown a valid election to keep Trump in power.
It’s clearly an institution in crisis. Polls have shown that public trust in the U.S. Supreme Court has plunged, even while Barrett claims the court is a bastion of non-partisanship, a laughable contention. This forum will take a look at the contested future of Supreme Court, even while it threatens to change life in America by stripping large numbers of people of their rights.
Panelists include law professors Jonathan H. Adler (CWRU) and Reginald C. Oh (CSU), lawyer Jeremy Paris, who formerly served as Chief Counsel for Nominations and Oversight of the Senate Jdiciary Committee, and the panel’s lone women, attorney Marquettes D. Robinson.
The discussion will also be live streamed. If you have questions tweet @TheCityClub or text 330-541-5794. It’s free to attend and luckily it’s in a bar, because you may need a drink. Just don’t drink as much as Kavanaugh is reputed to have done.
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