Back to the Utah State Aggies Newsfeed

Commentary: Senators should stop asking about judicial nominees’ religious beliefs

At her Feb. 5 confirmation hearing for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit — to fill a vacancy resulting from Brett M. Kavanaugh’s elevation to the Supreme Court — Neomi Rao faced tough questioning from Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Cory Booker, N.J., interrogated her about her personal views on same-sex marriage.

“Do you believe [same-sex marriages] are a sin?” he asked. Rao avoided the question by insisting that she would put her personal views to the side when deciding cases. Booker persisted: “So you’re not saying here whether you believe it is sinful for two men to be married?