At the Federalist Society dinner, where Justice Kavanaugh will be giving his first major speech since his controversial confirmation. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Justices Alito and Gorsuch have been announced as in the house, as was Attorney General Barr.
Protesters dressed as handmaidens, shouting “Shame! Shame!” greeted people waiting to check in.
As did a giant video screen showing Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony.
*Handmaids* - but you probably knew that.
All this is taking place just hours after Donald Trump for the first time asked the Supreme Court to derail an investigation of him. Trump wants the court to prevent his tax returns from being turned over to a New York prosecutor.
Sen. Mitch McConnell gets an enthusiastic ovation, calls the event his "favorite evening of the year."
Kavanaugh is supposed to speak around 9 or 9:15.
Former White House Counsel Don McGahn introducing Kavanaugh, calls him "a man of honor, a man of integrity." "He stood for principle and paid the price."
Standing ovation for Kavanaugh lasts about a minute and 15 seconds.
Protesters are making a high-pitched whistling sound while he speaks.
Kavanaugh says Don McGahn would buck him up by quoting Herb Brooks' speech to the 1980 US Olympic hockey team from the movie Miracle. "This is your time. Now go out there and take it."
Kavanaugh says Federalist Society's "primary point of view is to be open to all points of view." "I have always been a proud member of the Federalist Society."
Kavanaugh, who as the junior justice is a member the court's cafeteria committee, said he has made it so that there will be pizza in the cafeteria. I can't guarantee quality, but there's really no such thing as bad pizza."
Kavanaugh hails Scalia. Among his lessons: "Don't make up new rights that are not in the Constitution. Don't shy away from enforcing rights that are in the constitutional text."
He says he is part of a "team of nine with a superb and wise chief justice."
Kavanaugh calls Thomas and Ginsburg "two dedicated, hard-working generous souls." Notes that they walk "arm-in-arm" on and off the bench (as Thomas helps Ginsburg navigate the stairs).
In thanking his friends, Kavanaugh says: "I signed up for what I knew would be an ugly process, maybe not that ugly."
Kavanaugh starts to tear up when thanking his wife and daughters, then says: "Matt Damon would have made it through this" (referencing the famous SNL skit).
He concludes his 35-minute speech by saying, "I am optimistic about the future of America and our independent judiciary."
One of the few people Kavanaugh didn't thank, or mention: Donald Trump, who just filed an appeal this afternoon asking the court to shield his tax returns from a New York grand jury.
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Apologies, but I'm going to go on a late-Friday rant about lack of precision in discussing the Supreme Court's shadow/emergency docket. I'm frequently seeing people misdescribe what the court is being asked to do when applications are filed. 1/x
The majority of emergency applications don't ask the court to "hear" or take up" an appeal. They seek to stop something from happening -- or let it happen -- while litigation goes forward. The court is not being asked to rule on the merits. 2/x
Pending emergency applications include Sen. Graham's bid for a stay/injunction to avoid (for now) giving grand jury testimony and Kelli Ward's bid for a stay/injunction to keep (for now) her phone records from away from the Jan. 6 panel. Neither asks Scotus to hear an appeal. 3/x
NEW: 5-4 Supreme Court rejects Yeshiva University, clearing the way for recognition of LGBTQ group. Majority says Yeshiva can try again on its religious-rights claim after case has gone through NY courts. Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch, Barrett dissent.
BREAKING: Supreme Court rules for high school football coach who lost his job after repeatedly praying on 50-yard line after games. Vote is 6-3.
Second opinion is Concepcion. Court sides with defendant on reducing crack sentences under First Step Act. Unusual majority with Thomas, Gorsuch joining liberals. More coming.
The First Step Act ruling is Sotomayor's second in the January sitting, suggesting she might have taken the majority away from Kavanaugh, who wrote the dissent and doesn't have a majority opinion that sitting.
Roberts' authorship of this opinion suggests (but does not guarantee) that he is NOT writing the abortion decision. Otherwise, he would have two majority opinions from the December sitting and some other justice would have none.
Mind you, that kind of thing seems to be happening w/ the November sitting, where Gorsuch has already written two opinions (incl Texas abortion) and neither Thomas nor Barrett has issued one.
Possible explanations for Nov: (1) Thomas orig had abortion opinion and was going to dismiss whole suit but Gorsuch persuaded others to leave open appearance of a small window. (2) Someone had opinion in DOJ Texas abortion case but court for some reason opted not to issue it.
Amy Coney Barrett argues Supreme Court isn't driven by politics, after being introduced by Mitch McConnell at at event celebrating the anniversary of the McConnell Center. courier-journal.com/story/news/pol…
“My goal today is to convince you that this court is not comprised of a bunch of partisan hacks.”
Flashback: In 2020, Justice Kavanaugh also appeared alongside Mitch McConnell. That was for the swearing in of Justin Walker (Kavanaugh's former clerk and McConnell's protege) as a federal judge. wdrb.com/news/mitch-mcc…
NEW - Abortion providers make emergency request to Supreme Court, asking them to block Texas's 6-week ban before it takes effect Wednesday.
Abortion-rights advocates say the measure would bar care for at least 85% of patients and would force many clinics to close. Law lets private citizens sue to enforce.
5th Circuit effectively blocked pre-enforcement challenge.