George Mason University Students Protest Justice Kavanaugh’s Hiring
You would think that the embarrassing and unsuccessful attempts to derail Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings last year over farfetched sexual assault charges might have humbled progressives into silence about him, at least on that one issue, but never underestimate the power of dogged rejection of reality.
Justice Kavanaugh was hired by the George Mason University (GMU) Antonin Scalia Law School a couple months ago to teach one summer course to its students this year at a venue in Runnymede, United Kingdom. The course is already over-subscribed, according to the law school, indicating just how popular Kavanaugh’s teaching gig is among the school’s 525 students. The law school is ratedas having one of the nation’s most conservative student bodies.
But the undergraduates at GMU are another matter. They took to the sidewalks, Twitter,Facebook,andmorein an attempt to force the school to rescind Kavanaugh’s hiring and issue an apology.
The Administration at GMU, however, is not so easily bullied by triggered lefties. The school’s President, Angel Cabrera, issued a statementin which he said, in part:
“I respect the views of people who disagreed with Justice Kavanaugh’s Senate confirmation due to questions raised about his sexual conduct in high school. But he was confirmed and is now a sitting Justice. The law school has determined that the involvement of a U.S. Supreme Court Justice contributes to making our law program uniquely valuable for our students. And I accept their judgment.”
Runnymede, located in the English countryside, of course, is the site of the signing of the Magna Cartain 1215. The document was designed as a peace treaty of sorts to settle a dispute between King John and his nobles by requiring John to recognize certain rights possessed by all freemen, such as the rights to a fair trial and due process. Its place in the history of the development of the legal principle of “the rule of law” and its impact on English and American law places it high on the list of subjects for budding lawyers to master.
But for progressives at GMU, there shall be no “fair trial or due process” afforded to Justice Kavanaugh. In their view he was guilty as soon as the accusations surfaced. And as Justice Clarence Thomas’ experience with the accusations from Anita Hill at his own confirmation hearing shows, the effects of those smears will remainfor as long as he serves on the Supreme Court. What a shame.
Related: Judge Brett Kavanaugh – the Next Supreme Court Justice?
’Tis the season for holiday reading!
Check out Daily Citizen’s cheery winter reads.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bruce Hausknecht, J.D., is an attorney who serves as Focus on the Family’s judicial analyst. He is responsible for research and analysis of legal and judicial issues related to Christians and the institution of the family, including First Amendment freedom of religion and free speech issues, judicial activism, marriage, homosexuality and pro-life matters. He also tracks legislation and laws affecting these issues. Prior to joining Focus in 2004, Hausknecht practiced law for 17 years in construction litigation and as an associate general counsel for a large ministry in Virginia. He was also an associate pastor at a church in Colorado Springs for seven years, primarily in worship music ministry. Hausknecht has provided legal analysis and commentary for top media outlets including CNN, ABC News, NBC News, CBS Radio, The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe and BBC radio. He’s also a regular contributor to The Daily Citizen. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law. Hausknecht has been married since 1981 and has three adult children, as well as three adorable grandkids. In his free time, Hausknecht loves getting creative with his camera and capturing stunning photographs of his adopted state of Colorado.