Yale Law School dean calls for delay to Kavanaugh vote

The dean of Brett Kavanaugh’s alma mater is calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to postpone its vote on whether to send Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court to the Senate floor for a vote.

Yale Law School Dean Heather Gerken on Friday called for further investigation into the sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh in a statement released by the school.

{mosads}“I join the American Bar Association in calling for an additional investigation into the allegations made against Judge Kavanaugh,” she said. “Proceeding with the confirmation process without further investigation is not in the best interest of the court or our profession.” 

Dean Gerken Joins the ABA in Calling for Further Investigation. pic.twitter.com/SYAsVHwsi7

— Yale Law School (@YaleLawSch) September 28, 2018

In a letter Thursday night, American Bar Association (ABA) President Bob Carlson also urged a delay, asking Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley(R-Iowa) and ranking Democrat Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) to conduct a confirmation vote on Kavanaugh only after the FBI has conducted an investigation.

“We make this request because of the ABA’s respect for the rule of law and due process under law,” he wrote. 

“The basic principles that underscore the Senate’s constitutional duty of advice and consent on federal judicial nominees require nothing less than a careful examination of the accusations and facts by the FBI.”

White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah, in a statement, noted the ABA is separate from the independent Standing Committee, which has rated Kavanaugh “well-qualified.” 

“The ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary is separate and independent from its parent organization and has rated Judge Kavanaugh unanimously well-qualified. That hasn’t changed,” he said. 

The ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary is separate and independent from its parent organization and has rated Judge Kavanaugh unanimously well-qualified. That hasn’t changed. More on the Standing Committee on the Judiciary’s Backgrounder is here. pic.twitter.com/GB6efUovkL

— Raj Shah (@RajShah45) September 28, 2018

The Judiciary Committee has a vote on whether to send Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the floor scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Friday.