By DAVID MEADE

State Representative

One of the most important jobs that the President of the United States has is appointing judges who strictly interpret the Constitution and respect the rule of law.

That is why I am so pleased with President Trump’s selection of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on our nation’s highest court. He is highly qualified, has a distinguished record of service, and as a young justice will be able to serve on the court for decades to come.

More importantly, he has a strong understanding of the true role of a judge in our democracy. During the Obama Administration, the executive branch ran wild, stepping outside its authority by over-regulating our state’s coal and agriculture industries. Not only did these actions hurt our state’s economy, but they violated the separation of powers that our founding fathers held dear when writing the Constitution.

Judge Kavanaugh knows better. His writing and past decisions show that he believes in the separation of powers. He firmly believes that only Congress can make laws – and that pushing political agendas through executive power grabs is unconstitutional. Holding this strict constitutional philosophy is a critical quality in a good judge.

His writings have made this clear, having once wrote the following: “The judge’s job is to interpret the law, not to make the law or make policy. So read the words of the statute as written. Read the text of the Constitution as written, mindful of history and tradition. Don’t make up new constitutional rights that are not in the text of the Constitution. Don’t shy away from enforcing constitutional rights that are in the text of the Constitution.”

Ensuring that the constitutional rights of all people are protected, especially the right to keep and bear arms, is likewise critically important. President Trump’s decision to select Kavanaugh gives me confidence that these rights, which we hold dear in the Commonwealth, will be protected in the years to come.

While the issue of confirming Supreme Court justices is handled on the federal level, the future of the Supreme Court will affect us all, and impact our society for decades to come.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh has a proven track record as a judge who will apply the law as written, and has a clear and unwavering commitment to interpreting the constitution as our founding fathers intended. He will also reject attempts by the federal government to impose burdensome regulations on our citizens, like what President Obama’s EPA did to the coal and agriculture industries in Kentucky.

Judge Kavanaugh has dedicated his life to public service, something that was clear to President Trump upon choosing him from a quality pool of choices. He should be confirmed immediately.

Rep. David Meade represents the 80th House district, which includes Lincoln and part of Pulaski counties.