BATON ROUGE, LA – Attorney General Jeff Landry today led a coalition of 22 state attorneys general in sending a letter to the United
States Senate, urging the body to immediately hold a hearing and vote to
confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court.
In the letter, AG Landry and his colleagues wrote that the
Senate will need little time to conclude that Judge Barrett will make an
excellent Associate Justice due to her “unwavering commitment to a judicial
philosophy that prioritizes restraint, humility, and respect for the rule of
law.”
The Landry coalition declares that Judge Barrett’s exemplary
record makes it clear that she has the experience, qualifications, and judicial
philosophy required to be an outstanding Associate Justice. They note that
Judge Barrett graduated at the top of her Notre Dame Law School class, clerked
for the late Justice Antonin Scalia, and has served with distinction on the 7th
Circuit Court of Appeals since 2017. They also recognize that Judge Barrett is
widely considered an expert on constitutional law and a prolific scholar.
Additionally, they identify how history and precedent show that the Senate has
ample time to review and consider Judge Barrett’s qualifications before voting
to confirm her this term.
In the letter, AG Landry and the other
attorneys general state that, in addition to Judge Barrett’s qualifications,
her commitment to defending the rule of law makes her exceptionally fit to
serve on the Supreme Court. As attorneys general whose duty it is to protect
the principles of federalism, they know that Amy Coney Barrett is the right
choice because of her stated views of the law and opinions from the bench
clearly show she will safeguard the Constitution. Therefore, the attorneys
general conclude, the Senate must immediately fulfill its constitutional duty
and promptly confirm Judge Barrett.
“Today, I lead my fellow AG colleagues in calling on the
Senate to fulfill its duty to the American people and immediately vote to
confirm Amy Coney Barrett,” said AG Landry. “A Metairie native and St. Mary’s
Dominican High School alumna, Judge Barrett embodies our State’s values and
respect for the rule of law.”
In addition to AG Landry, the letter was signed by the
attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia,
Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North
Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West
Virginia.
