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Thursday’s Senate confirmation hearing caused me some anxiety and confusion, but one bright light was our own Sen. Mike Crapo’s clear explanation of how an FBI background check works, and when it is warranted. Although his opinion was that it was not necessary, I respect his non-partisan presentation, which made it clear that it was right thing to do. I’m glad that it is going forward, and I thank Sen. Crapo for helping me to understand the issue.

I understand that there are many complex questions our senators face when deciding how to vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Neither of our senators are up for re-election. My belief is that party loyalty, although an extremely important part of the job in general, should not have a place in the confirmation of a lifetime appointment of a justice of the Supreme Court. (Judge Kavanaugh’s current position as a U.S. appeals court judge is a life-time appointment.)

There is only one non-partisan question before us now. Is Judge Kavanaugh qualified to serve on the Supreme Court? The fact that he refused to call for an FBI background check, is a bad sign for a Supreme Court Judge. It is standard practice, and it is obvoius that the Senate committee did not have enough evidence to decide who is telling the truth. Asking for more evidence when it is needed is part of the job the Judge Kavanaugh has held for the last dozen years as a federal judge. (Federal Rules of Evidence Article VI Witnesses Rule 614.) When faced with a conflict between his own self-interest and an easy legal question, he failed. Understandable, but still a disqualification for a Supreme Court Judge.

The Supreme Court will play a large role in changing our culture around sexual abuse. A man who cannot separate his personal feelings from proper legal procedure should not have a place on the Supreme Court. I am fearful that placing him there will lower the respect in which the court is held by the American public. I know it will have that effect on me.

NANCY C. GERTH, Ph.D.

Sagle