Utah's senators embraced President Trump's choice of Brett Kavanaugh to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy on the U.S. Supreme Court.
The two Republicans took to social media and the airwaves to cheer the president's selection, which Trump announced Monday night. Sen. Mike Lee, who was for a time listed as a potential nominee to the Supreme Court, said he looks forward to the Senate confirmation process and getting to know Kavanaugh and his family.
Lee also said he's hopeful for confirmation. On Twitter, he called Kavanaugh a "smart and fair judge, one of the most admired appellate judges in the country."
Judge Kavanaugh is a well-respected jurist who deservedly received bipartisan support when confirmed to the D.C. Circuit in 2006. I know him to be a smart and fair judge, one of the most admired appellate judges in the country. #SCOTUS #SCOTUSpick
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) July 10, 2018
During an interview with FOX News Monday night, Sen. Orrin Hatch said he's confident Congress will confirm Kavanaugh's nomination. Speaking on the Senate floor Tuesday, Hatch also referred to the national-level respect received by Kavanaugh.
“And I intend to do everything in my power, Madame President, to see Judge Kavanaugh confirmed to the Supreme Court,” Hatch said.
Hatch called the nominee a powerful writer, and a kind and humble man during his speech on the Senate floor.
Republicans are pushing for confirmation before the midterm elections in November, though they are already facing opposition from Democrats.
HATCH on the Senate floor:
— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) July 10, 2018
"I could not be more pleased that one of my final acts here in the United States Senate will be to help shepherd through one last nominee to our nation’s highest court. And I could not be more pleased that that nominee is Judge Brett Kavanaugh." #utpol pic.twitter.com/YxBoUyUYFp
