Vivek Ramaswamy Announces Potential Supreme Court Picks, Including Ted Cruz and Mike Lee
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy released his list of possible U.S. Supreme Court nominees Monday, including prominent pro-life U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and Mike Lee.
Also on the conservative businessman’s list was a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals judge who repeatedly has condemned abortion, once calling it a “moral tragedy.”
The AP reports Ramaswamy named 16 people who he potentially would nominate to the Supreme Court or a federal appellate court if elected president. The millionaire businessman and author is the first 2024 presidential candidate to release such a list.
Ramaswamy describes himself as “unapologetically pro-life,” and many of his judicial choices reflect his beliefs. These include Republican leaders Ted Cruz, of Texas, and Mike Lee, of Utah, both of whom are strong advocates for unborn babies in the U.S. Senate.
“What each of the individuals I would appoint share is their unwavering dedication to the principles of originalism and commitment to a constitutionalist judicial philosophy,” Ramaswamy said Monday, the New York Times reports. “Our courts are the last line of defense against an administrative state that rules by fiat, legislates from the bench, stifling freedom and truth.”
The candidate said he released the names because he wants to be transparent with voters about his plans for office.
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Another notable name on his list is Fifth Circuit Court Justice James Ho. The Texas-based judge has issued a number of pro-life opinions, including in the historic Dobbs v. Jackson ruling before it went to the Supreme Court. In another 2019 case, Ho described abortion as a “moral tragedy” and criticized the abortion industry for attacking pro-life Christians’ religious freedom.
Others on the list include Judge Lawrence Van Dyke of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; Judge Lisa Branch of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals; Paul D. Clement, a solicitor general under former President George W. Bush; Judge Thomas M. Hardiman of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals; Judge Justin R. Walker of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals; and Judge John K. Bush of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Along with Supreme Court nominees, Ramaswamy also included the names of several judges who he would like to promote to appellate courts. One was U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, of Texas, who recently heard a case challenging the approval of the dangerous abortion drug mifepristone, according to the AP.
Ramaswamy said Joe Biden appears to base his judicial nominees on “diversity of race and gender,” but his nominees were chosen based on “diverse experiences” and their commitment to the U.S. Constitution.
“My sole criterion was to select candidates with an unwavering commitment to an originalist understanding of the U.S. Constitution,” he said. “[My potential nominees] also understand the unique threats to liberty in the 21st century (including lurking state action). Our courts remain the last line of defense against the overreach and weaponization of government. As president I will appoint judges who will protect the integrity of our constitutional Republic.”
Last week, Ramaswamy told Fox News that he is “unapologetically pro-life” and unborn babies are valuable. However, the Republican candidate also admitted he does not believe the federal government should pass laws that ban aborting unborn babies. He said he believes abortion “is an issue for the states.”
Other candidates who have announced Republican presidential bids include former Presidential Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, former North Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
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