Sen. Lindsey Graham expressed his frustration at the technical difficulties the Senate Judiciary Committee experienced throughout the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
“I think it happened again,” the South Carolina Republican said after the microphones cut out for the second time during Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s questioning.
“Are we not paying the bills anymore?” he asked.
While the microphones were down, Blumenthal discussed Barrett’s use of what is often called the “Ginsburg rule,” referring to Ginsburg’s statement from 27 years ago that said, “A judge sworn to decide impartially can offer no forecasts, no hints, for that would show not only disregard for the specifics of the particular case, it would display disdain for the entire judicial process.”
“Justice Ginsburg, with her characteristic pithiness, used this to describe how a nominee should comport herself at a hearing: no hints, no previews, no forecasts,” Barrett said. “That had been the practice of nominees before her. But everybody calls it the Ginsburg rule because she stated it so concisely.”
Blumenthal said that the Trump administration has taken the rule to “a new level” throughout President Trump’s three Supreme Court nominations.
“I hope it won’t be known as the Barrett rule of avoid — response deflection,” he said.
