Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Monday she plans to carefully vet Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, but praised the jurist for his experience and record.
“Judge Kavanaugh has impressive credentials and extensive experience, having served more than a decade on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals,” Collins said in a statement. “I will conduct a careful, thorough vetting of the president’s nominee to the Supreme Court, as I have done with the five previous Supreme Court Justices whom I have considered.”
Trump announced Monday he will nominate Kavanaugh to fill retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy’s seat on the Supreme Court.
Kavanaugh has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for 12 years.
With just 50 Republican senators voting routinely, Collins’ and GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s votes are pivotal.
The Maine senator said this month she would oppose any Supreme Court nominee who shows “hostility” toward Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision that established a woman’s right to abortion.
Collins was invited to attend Trump’s announcement at the White House, but declined.
[Related: Key red-state Senate Democrats turn down invites to Trump’s Supreme Court reveal]
Murkowski, of Alaska, said she plans to consider several criteria, including her review Kavanaugh’s record and the views of her constituents, before deciding whether to support Kavanaugh.
“While I have not met Judge Kavanaugh, I look forward to sitting down for a personal meeting with him,” Murkowski said in a statement. “I intend to review Judge Kavanaugh’s decisions on the bench and writings off the bench, and pay careful attention to his responses to questions posed by my colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee.”
Murkowski said she will also consider the American Bar Association’s analysis of Kavanaugh’s record.
“My standard for reviewing Supreme Court nominees remains rigorous and exacting,” she said.
