FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2020
CONTACT
Manisha Sunil, West End Strategy Team
msunil@westendstrategy.com; Phone: 202-417-0171
Rabbi Jack Moline: Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s Confirmation is an “Affront to Our Democratic Processes”
WASHINGTON — In a mostly party-line vote, the Senate today confirmed Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States. Earlier this month, Interfaith Alliance took the unprecedented and historic step of opposing her nomination. In response to her confirmation, Rabbi Jack Moline, president of Interfaith Alliance, released the following statement:
“Since the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we have maintained our belief that, with voting already underway, the nomination process should be led by whomever is elected in November. However, the nomination of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the seat made it abundantly clear that this precedent – set in 2016 by Senate Republicans – would not be respected.
“A rushed, politicized confirmation process is an affront to our democratic processes. By confirming a justice only eight days before a national election, Senate Republicans are rejecting their own standards, further politicizing the Supreme Court, and silencing millions of Americans from having a voice in the nomination process. Not once, but twice we have seen the process for filling a Supreme Court seat manipulated for political advantage, and Justice Coney Barrett’s ascension to the Supreme Court will serve to radically shift the balance of the court to a degree not seen in decades.
“The confirmation of Justice Coney Barrett also presents an immediate danger to the religious freedom of all Americans. The freedom to believe as we choose is an essential component of American democracy. Once heralded as a shield to protect personal belief, the Trump administration has orchestrated a four-year coordinated campaign to distort our first freedom beyond recognition. The president has made no secret of his intent to cement this legacy through the appointment of a third Supreme Court justice.
“We urge Justice Amy Coney Barrett to uphold our foundational first freedom and commit to guiding our nation along the path toward justice. In the meantime, Interfaith Alliance will continue the fight to ensure that our leaders are representing the interests and protecting the freedoms of Americans of all faiths and none.”
If you are interested in speaking with Rabbi Jack Moline further on this issue, please contact Manisha Sunil at msunil@westendstrategy.com or 202-417-0171.
Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.