In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote that "governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed."  Yet, today in America, it often seems that public policy is determined not by the consent of the governed, but by the whims of a few activist federal judges.  These individuals are not merely interpreting the law, they are making it.  This is not the way our Founding Fathers intended our Republic to function. 

The answer to the perplexing problem of activist judges is to ensure that any judge appointed to the federal bench can be trusted to wield their power within the rightful constraints of the Constitution.  Fortunately, President Trump has secured two appointments to the Supreme Court and confirmed a record number of federal judges.  I was proud to support the confirmation of both Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.  Both of whom possess a dynamic intellect, deep respect for the rule of law, and unwavering commitment to our nation’s founding principles.  I am confident that they will interpret the Constitution as written and continue the legacy of Justices such as Antonin Scalia and William Rehnquist.

Furthermore, I believe that the review of judicial nominations is critical to our nation’s future and one of the most important responsibilities of the U.S. Senate.  Federal judges are invested with extensive power and given lifetime tenure.  Therefore, I pay particularly close attention to the records, backgrounds, and philosophical views of all judicial nominees prior to voting. Under the Senate’s conservative majority, a record number of circuit and district court judges have been confirmed during President Trump’s tenure. This progress has been achieved despite unprecedented obstruction by progressives in Congress, and I look forward to continue helping this positive transformation of the federal judiciary.