Friend --

In my 46 years of serving in the Senate (which includes 20 Supreme Court nominations and 16 confirmation hearings), I have never seen a Supreme Court confirmation hearing anything like this one.

While I would like to say that this was pleasantly unique, we all know -- including my Republican colleagues -- that we are treading in murky and dangerous territory.

A nomination before Justice Ginsburg was buried. A significantly shorter period of vetting. A hearing three weeks out from Elec‌tion D‌ay (in a year with an unusual amount of early voters who've already cast their ballots). A number of members who have tested positive for a deadly virus. And one half of the Senate who have gone back on their word to the American people.

Not to mention that millions of Americans are still out of work, are concerned about where they're getting their next meal, and are mourning their friends, family, and normalcy.

Americans need our leadership. What they don't need -- and have come out loudly against -- is a new Supreme Court justice who would be willing to gut protections for people with pre-existing conditions (even during a pandemic), go back to a time when women had no control over their bodies, and roll back significant progress for voting rights, workers' rights, and LGBTQ+ rights.

While the Judiciary Committee gave our opening statements yesterday and began our questioning to‌day, I acknowledge this is going to be a difficult week for the majority of Americans who oppose this rushed process, for the integrity of the Senate, and for our justice system.

To show your support for the concerns I and my Democratic colleagues raised in our opening statements and as we question Amy Coney Barrett this week, please add your name here.

Thank you for always being there for us, especially during these difficult times.

Sincerely,

Patrick Leahy
U.S. Senator