Letter: Republicans harm legitimacy of courts

Mark Schnabel takes Democrats to task for supposedly trying to delay the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh (“Democrats want delay, not truth,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 3).

How conveniently Republicans forget the nomination of Merrick Garland, delayed for an unprecedented 293 days (in other words 42 weeks, or nearly 10 months). Appropriate congressional action was stonewalled by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who unapologetically simply refused to allow even a hearing.

Likewise, and to add insult to injury, another approximately 150 vacant judgeships were intentionally left unfilled, obviously so future Republican administrations could stack the federal courts in their favor by filling them, not with impartial and expert legal minds, but with mere political loyalists.

McConnell’s issue wasn’t with Garland’s credentials, which were apparently exemplary, but because he was nominated by a Democratic president.

He and his party have clearly abandoned any pretense of respect for the legitimacy of our highest court. History matters.

Don Hallock

St. Louis Heights

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