Judicial Nominee Wendy Vitter on Brown v. Board
During her confirmation hearing on Wednesday, judicial nominee Wendy Vitter would not say whether she agreed with the decision made in Brown vs. Board of Education. According to the Huffington Post, President Trump nominated Vitter to be a federal judge in the Eastern District of Louisiana, and during her hearing, Sen. Richard Blumenthal asked if she agreed with the decision made in the historic case that ultimately desegregated public schools across the country.
"I don’t mean to be coy, but I think I get into a difficult area when I start commenting on Supreme Court decisions, which are correctly decided, and which I may disagree with," she responded. "Again, my personal, political or religious views, I would set aside. That is Supreme Court precedent. It is binding. If I were honored to be confirmed, I would be bound by it, and of course, I would uphold it."
Blumenthal pressed again, asking if she believes it was correctly decided.
Vitter continued to avoid the question, saying, "Again, I would respectfully not comment on what could be my boss’ ruling, the Supreme Court. I would be bound by it. And if I start commenting on, 'I agree with this case, or don’t agree with this case,' I think we get into a slippery slope."
WATCH: During her confirmation hearing this morning (yes, this morning – in 2018), judicial nominee Wendy Vitter refused to say whether she agreed with the result in Brown v. Board of Education. #UnfitToJudge pic.twitter.com/RWroh0XUIC
- The Leadership Conference (@civilrightsorg) April 11, 2018
Vitter was also questioned about previous comments she made surrounding abortion and birth control. According to NPR, back in 2013, Vitter endorsed a brochure while at a pro-life conference. The brochure reportedly states that birth control pills are linked to "violent death" due to domestic violence.
During the hearing, Sen. Mazie Hirono said to Vitter, "You urged the audience to distribute the materials making these dangerous claims... Do you believe the claims that Dr. Lanfranchi makes that abortion causes breast cancer and that birth control causes women to be assaulted and murdered?"
2/ She also faced questions about an "abortion hurts women" panel she facilitated in 2013-where she promoted brochures that claimed birth control increases women’s chances of dying a violent death. Here’s how she described the panel in her hearing this morning: pic.twitter.com/ougrkT6ux8
- Kate Harloe (@kateharloe) April 11, 2018
Vitter then said she's not a "medical professional" and had not "heard those opinions before" the brochure. Hirono remarked that Vitter had previously called them "facts," which you can see happen in a YouTube clip from the conference's panel.
Hirono continued, "Judges have to apply common sense. Does it even make sense to you that people who use birth control pills would be more likely to be assaulted or murdered?" Vitter said it did not.
1/ Fed judicial nominee Wendy Vitter, who said that Planned Parenthood kills “150,000 females a year,” testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning. She refused to answer repeated yes-or-no questions on whether she stands by that statement: https://t.co/4NcJGa4Fpo pic.twitter.com/h0kiKWuWLN
- Kate Harloe (@kateharloe) April 11, 2018
Blumenthal also asked Vitter about a Planned Parenthood protest where she asserted that the organization kills "over 150,000 females a year." When Vitter responded that she would put aside her own pro-life views if she were appointed, Blumenthal said, "I'm really not asking you about setting aside your personal views. I'm asking you very simply. You said Planned Parenthood kills 150,000 females. Do you stand by that statement? It's a yes or no." Vitter replied, "My pro-life stance has been made very clear... I would set aside any religious views or any personal views if I were to be confirmed."
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