Sen. John Kennedy has said he'd like to see President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee to be a cross between "Socrates and Dirty Harry" and on Monday, he said he doesn't know yet if the four top candidates meet that test, and there will be a "war, regardless" during confirmation proceedings.
"I don't know yet, that's why we're having a confirmation process," the Louisiana Republican told CNN's Kate Bolduan. "I'm looking for somebody smart, obviously. Somebody who's intellectually curious, open-minded. Someone who's willing to test his or her assumptions against the arguments of those who disagree. I want somebody at the same time who has the courage of his or her convictions."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said that Judges Raymond Kethledge or Thomas Hardiman will be the easiest to confirm, but Kennedy said there will be a "war, regardless."
He said he also wants someone who respects the Constitution and "understands why we have a Bill of Rights. You really can't tell whether that standard can be reached until you have confirmation hearings."
The "Dirty Harry" element means the justice will have to know what he or she believes and be willing to stand up and be counted over that opinion, said Kennedy.
"At the same time, a good judge is open-minded and willing to test his or her assumptions against their critic's argument," said Kennedy, "So that's both Dirty Harry and Socrates."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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