Finally, Good News On An Important Front!

Here is a very special message from catholicvote.org: The Senate just confirmed Joan Larsen to the federal bench. Yesterday, Notre Dame Law Professor Amy Barrett was also confirmed. Barrett, as you know, was subjected to blatant anti-Catholic bigotry from Senators Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, and Dick Durbin D-IL. It was Durbin who asked whether she was an “orthodox” Catholic. And Feinstein famously charged: “The dogma lives loudly within you, and that’s a concern.” Now Amy Barrett enjoys a lifetime appointment on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. And Joan Larsen will join the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.  But these confirmations are just the start. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has promised votes this week on two more judicial nominations: Stephanos Bibas for the 3rd Circuit Court and Allison Eidto fill the vacancy on the 10th Circuit left by the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Both Eid and Bibas are expected to be confirmed. There is no doubt that the Supreme Court wields enormous power -- much more than we want and clearly not what the Founders intended. But it’s also true that the Supreme Court handles only about 75 cases every year. The rest of the federal courts handle more than 60,000 cases annually. This is why judges truly matter. Make no mistake: The party that controls the Senate determines how many judges get confirmed. Because of the power our courts have assumed, this is perhaps the most important thing the Senate does. Every concerned Catholic voter needs to understand this point. Because if Democrats take the Senate back in the 2018 elections, then the number of judicial nominees confirmed will come to a halt. And if another vacancy were to open on the Supreme Court, there is no certainty that President Trump could even confirm a nominee. That’s why next year CV will be focused on doing everything necessary to prevent Chuck Schumer from taking back control of the Senate. But we should also make the most of the time we have, and push to confirm as many judicial nominees as possible. We’re pressuring Republican leadership now, demanding they move faster on hearings, and on confirmation votes. After all, Barrett and Larsen were nominated on May 8th! It’s time to pick up the pace! Let’s fill the vacancies -- all of them -- now! When Donald Trump was sworn into office, there were a near-record number of vacancies on the federal bench. But with retirements apace, there are actually more vacancies today than when Trump first took office. We have the opportunity to create a lasting legacy of judges and reform of the judiciary with the confirmation of sharp judicial minds like Barrett and Larsen. And all of them will serve on our courts for decades after Trump leaves office. The pressure is working. Judges are finally being confirmed. Your help is critical to keep the pressure on. Chip in here.

Brian Burch, Catholic Vote catholicvote.org