The Anti-Defamation League said Thursday that it was "concerned" about President Donald Trump's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, saying "his positions merit close scrutiny."
"The vacancy left by Justice [Anthony] Kennedy's retirement is a critical one for the future of civil rights, civil liberties, and our democracy," Jonathan Greenblatt, the league's CEO and national director, said in a statement.
"At a time where hard-fought progress in LGBT rights, voting rights, and women’s rights are threatened, and immigrants and vulnerable communities in our country are under attack, the role of an independent Supreme Court — and one that protects the Constitutional rights of all Americans — is more important than ever.
"We are concerned that Judge Kavanaugh’s judicial record does not reflect the demonstrated independence and commitment to fair treatment for all that is necessary to merit a seat on our nation's highest court," Greenblatt said.
"Because he has written and spoken prolifically on many issues of deep concern, we believe his positions merit close scrutiny."
Kavanaugh, 53, who sits on the federal appeals court in Washington, was nominated Monday by Trump to succeed Kennedy, 81, who was named in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan.
Greenblatt cited Kavanaugh's "demonstrated hostility to reproductive freedom and his past support for greatly expanded and unchecked executive power.
"The Senate’s advice-and-consent role in the nomination process is equally important as the president's responsibility to nominate," he continued.
"We cannot let Justice Kennedy's retirement jeopardize hard-fought progress in securing our civil rights and civil liberties."
The ADL, Greenblatt said, will highlight issues that Kavanaugh should be questioned on by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"Senators should probe Judge Kavanaugh carefully to ensure that he will respect basic principles of equality, independence, church-state separation, and civil rights."
"As the committee reviews the full record, unless they are completely satisfied that Judge Kavanaugh will in fact respect such basic principles as a justice on the Supreme Court, they should oppose his nomination."
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