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Brett Kavanaugh: Ideal Choice for the Supreme Court (Opinion)

With a thoughtful and succinct speech Monday, President Donald Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. With the most experience of the people Trump considered and a stellar textualist and originalist record, he was considered by many as the front runner for the nomination.

Kavanaugh, 53, is a federal appeals court judge appointed in 2003 by President George W. Bush and confirmed in 2006 by a senate vote of 57-36 to the D.C. Court of Appeals. Before that, he worked for the Bush campaign during the Florida recount in the 2000 election and subsequently in Bush’s White House.

Earlier, while working for Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr in investigating President Bill Clinton, he wrote key memos laying out the broad grounds for presidential impeachment and limits on presidential investigations.

Following undergraduate and law studies at Yale, he clerked for Justice Kennedy. He’s married to his wife Ashley, and they have two daughters he coaches in basketball. Kavanaugh has run the Boston Marathon twice, and he regularly runs 5K races. He is Catholic.

Bush said, “Brett is a brilliant jurist who has faithfully applied the Constitution and laws throughout his 12 years on the D.C. Circuit. He will make a superb Justice of the Supreme Court.”

The New York Times said, “his selection will galvanize Democrats and Republicans in the months before the midterm elections. Moments after the announcement, the Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, declared, ‘I will oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination with everything I have.’”

Schumer, in total fealty to his party’s kamikaze left wing, would oppose any nominee Trump proposed. Forget meeting with the nominee before making this statement. It’s all about the soundbite for Democrats desperately trying to find an issue this election cycle.

However, moderate Democrat senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota – endangered, running in states won by Trump and who voted to confirm Justice Neil Gorsuch – will certainly have the decency and good sense to hear from Kavanaugh.

We believe Kavanaugh is exactly the kind of textualist and originalist justice needed on the Supreme Court. In his Monday remarks accepting the nomination, he stated he would “keep an open mind in every case”, but also that judges “must interpret the law, not make the law.”

Amen!

Recently, in National Review, he was praised by Sarah Pitlyk, his former law clerk: “Judge Kavanaugh has a clear, consistent, and rock-solid record on the issues that matter most to social conservatives. He has repeatedly taken conservative stands and fearlessly defended his textualist and originalist philosophy.”

And, “As I can say with confidence from having worked with him closely in chambers for a year – and benefited from his mentorship for a decade – he is a good and decent man who will never waver in the face of pressure from any quarters. He is exactly what constitutional conservatives should want on the Supreme Court.”

Politico quoted Elizabeth Price Foley, Professor of Law at Florida International University, thus: “Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court is likely a turning point for constitutional interpretation. His commitment to textualism and originalism will help the Court restore power to the political branches and consequently, the American people.”

Further, “Unlike activist judges who believe ‘law is politics’ and feel empowered to impose their subjective preferences on the country, judges such as Kavanaugh believe strongly that law is the end product of politics, not a continuation thereof, and the judiciary’s duty is to enforce the law as written.”

The Washington Examiner reported, however, that Kavanaugh “is drawing criticism for his interpretation of the Fourth Amendment.” He concurred with D.C. Circuit Court colleagues to not hear a case involving government collection of millions of phone call records.

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said that “reflects a sweeping view of national security as an exception to core protections. … Kavanaugh went out of his way to position himself at the outer limits of executive power.”

A few on the fringe right and nearly all on the left will oppose him.
We think he’s ideal and Trump has delivered on his promises on perhaps the most important matter.

Ron Knecht is Nevada Controller. James Smack is Deputy Controller.

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On May 18, 2024, at about 0050 hours, Carson City Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle
driven by Christopher Gorham. A drug-detection canine was used to conduct a sniff of the vehicle. Deputies searched the vehicle and located drug paraphernalia along with an explosive device.

Over the last 10 years, Catmandu has helped more than 2700 cats and kittens have a better life through rescue, adoption, education, assistance programs and a cage-free sanctuary. To mark the occasion and raise money to continue their lifesaving efforts, Catmandu is having a celebration/fundraising event from 6-9 pm on Saturday, June 29th at the Carson Events Center.

Thank you Jack's Valley Elementary School for inviting the Carson City Park Rangers to participate in Camp Read A Lot!

Students learned amazing facts about our feline and canine neighbors, mountain lions and coyotes!

An 1884 Carson City Morgan silver dollar donated by Northern Nevada Coin is being raffled by the Friends of the Nevada State Museum. The raffle will highlight the Tin Cup Roundup fundraiser planned for Saturday, September 21 (5 to 8 pm). Proceeds from the raffle and the event will support the restoration of a 1967 Chevrolet pickup truck for the State Museum.

Deputies are investigating a pipe bomb that was discovered during a traffic stop early Saturday morning.

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. That is my biggest problem. I do NOT make a good first impression.

On Friday, the Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada announced its expansion into Minden.

“We are so incredibly honored to announce the brand-new Wray Family Clubhouse opening in August of 2024 in Minden,” a spokesperson wrote.

A 32-year-old Carson City man was arrested Thursday afternoon for felony domestic battery.

Steven Michael was arrested after deputies responded to a report of a domestic assault.

Since creating its Jump Start College more than decade ago, there have never been as many graduates as the Western Nevada College’s Class of 2024 produced.

WNC will honor a record 168 graduates at graduation ceremonies on May 20 in Carson City and May 23 in Fallon.
The program includes nine participating high schools, three academies and homeschool students.

Carson City is now accepting Letters of Intent for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects taking place July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025.

The City is specifically seeking projects correlating with the City’s FY 2023-2028 Consolidated Plan, approved on August 3, 2023.

Ricardo Serrano Perez was sentenced to 20 years in the Nevada Department of Corrections with minimum parole eligibility of 8 years. Perez was sentenced pursuant to a guilty plea agreement whereby the parties stipulated to the maximum sentence.

Carson High Speech and Debate will be hosting the inaugural Carson High Show and Shine car show Saturday May 25th in the north parking lot of CHS from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Anyone with a classic or cool car can enter their vehicle in the event for $25.

Awards will be given for the top 10 entrees. See the attached flyer or you can register day of. Anyone can come check out the cars free of charge.

There will be raffle prizes, face painting for the kids, and food trucks on site.

Donna Inversin, President of The Historic Virginia & Truckee Trail, will speak on the nonprofit's effort to find those remaining sections of old rail bed routes and stitch them together to build a multi-use path of between 60 and 80 miles that will be an echo of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad for the benefit and enjoyment of the citizens and visitors of Northern Nevada.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division is seeking information from the public to identify a suspect in a vehicle burglary investigation.

Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space is introducing the capital city's first Trails Challenge in hopes of turning it into an annual outdoor adventure.

Carson Water Subconservancy District will host its two-day “Get on the Bus!” tour of the Carson River Watershed June 11-12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Expert guides will cover topics ranging from water rights, river-restoration projects, and water quality and quantity to floodplain management, regenerative agriculture, and more.

Stuff a cop car with food on May 18

A “Stuff the Cop Car With Food” event will be held at Smith’s Food Food and Drug parking lot in Dayton on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 10am until 3pm.

A 63-year-old housekeeper was arrested Thursday for 14 counts of credit card fraud and other offenses after allegedly stealing a credit card belonging to an 86-year-old patient who family members said was being treated for a stroke at a local care facility, according to a Carson City Sheriff's Office detective.

Marie Finkes is the director of FitzHenry’s Funeral Home in Carson City, and said that over the past year, there have been 12 bodies under her care that have been subject to extended stays. This is due to the fact that Carson City Public Administrator Scott Hoen has ignored their repeated requests for an electronic signature releasing the body for cremation.

Have you ever wanted to learn the old art of Blacksmithing? Early smiths made wagon parts, handmade tools, shaped ornamental pieces, horseshoes, hinges and just about anything to having to do with working metal into a desired shape or purpose.

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Carson City Shorts presents the first-ever Moon Rocks Sci-Fi Short Film Competition, inviting filmmakers from near and far to embark on an interstellar journey of storytelling and imagination. Presented by Silver State Storytellers, this competition challenges participants to create compelling sci-fi short films that push the boundaries of creativity and transport audiences to distant galaxies.

Pioneer Academy in Carson City celebrated their outstanding students at a combined National Honor Society Induction and awards ceremony Thursday, April 25, 2024. Thirty-eight students received awards for attendance, scholarship and excellence in the classroom.

The Virginia Truckee Railroad begins its 49th season on May 25, 2024, with an exciting schedule of both steam and diesel locomotives. The scenic train ride departs daily from the original Virginia City depot where millionaires and miners sought their fortunes 150 years ago.

Carson City School Trustees heard an update regarding the proposed absorption of Pioneer Academy under Carson High School.

Tux: the official Linux mascot

Curious about Linux? Long time user? Join us for the March meeting of the Carson City Linux Users Group. We meet on the third Saturday of each month, and have great information and discussions of interest to any level of experience with Linux.

Sierra Nevada Realtors this week released its April 2024 report on existing home sales in Carson City, Lyon, Douglas, Storey, Washoe and Churchill counties. This report includes the median sales price and number of home sales in the region. SNR obtains its information from the Northern Nevada Regional Multiple Listing Service.

On May 15th, 2024, shortly after midnight, deputies with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence located on the 600 block of Angela Street in Fernley, Nev., reference a caller who reported that he had murdered his mother. The caller additionally provided that he barricaded himself inside the house, was armed with a rifle, and had planted pipe bombs at the residence.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and as part of that, Partnership Carson City (PCC) and OSP Northern Nevada are holding a workshop focused on suicide prevention training.

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