In a countyof 4.7 millionpeopleinTennessee, Republicanshavetriedtopreventballotdropboxes.
I knowwehadthesecretaryofstateasoneofourwitnessesat a RulesCommitteehearing, andtheyhavearguedincourtthatCovein 19 isnot a validexcusetovotebymail.
InNorthCarolina, theSupremeCourtstruckdown a corecomponentoftheVotingRightsAct.
Whathappened?
Well, stateslikeNorthCarolinapassedlawsthatweresoegregioustomakeithardertovotethatthefourthCircuitstruckdowntheirlawandnotedthat a targetAfricanAmericanswithalmostsurgicalprecision.
IfMissBarrettreplacesher, theywouldthenbe a strongconservativemajorityof 6 to 3 andconservativeAmericans a keenonthenomineebecauseofherrecordonissuessuchasabortion, gaymarriageandgunrights.
Here's whatshesaidonthatitwouldbe a completeviolationoftheindependenceofthejudiciary, foranyonetoput a justiceonthecourtas a meansofobtaining a particularresult.
Andthat's why, as I wasmentioning, I thinktoSenatorGrassleythatthequestionnairethat I filloutforthiscommitteemakesclearthat I havemadenoprecommitmentstoanyoneabouthow I woulddecide a casethat's outofrespectforArticlethree, anditsdesignationofthejudiciaryis a coequalandindependentbranchofgovernment.