In a joint post on Justia.com, Illinois law professors Lesley Wexler and Colleen Murphy propose that the most lasting legacy of the Kavanaugh confirmation battle will not be Judge Kavanaugh’s imprint on the Court, but the bravery Dr. Ford has inspired in others. Wexler and Murphy view the recent events through the lens of transitional justice and argue that the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh is not dispositive or even indicative of whether the aspirations for #MeToo movement may be realized.
They write:
"...But more importantly, at the same time as Judge Kavanaugh’s hearings, Bill Cosby was sentenced for the rape of Andrea Constand, McDonald’s employees conducted a ten-city #MeToo walkout, former President Barack Obama refused to endorse alleged domestic abuser Keith Ellison, Joe Biden publicly acknowledged his failures regarding the treatment of Anita Hill during the Thomas confirmation hearings, and a Yazidi activist and Congolese doctor were awarded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to end rape as a weapon of war. A flood of victims, including Connie Chung, inspired by Dr. Ford’s example explained why they didn’t report and spoke the truth of their assaults. One even named a sitting congressman as her assailant.
"Perhaps the most lasting legacy of the confirmation battle will not be Judge Kavanaugh’s imprint on the Court, but the bravery Dr. Ford has inspired in others."
Read the full post at verdict.justia.com.