Quote of the Day: Ralph Northam on Aborted Cuccinelli Nomination to Virginia Supreme Court

Lt. Governor Ralph Northam

As noted in a post yesterday, Virginia Senate Republicans have cynically put Ken "Kookinelli" Cuccinelli's name in play for appointment to the Virginia Supreme Court.  As I noted, I can thing of few people less appropriate on the Court than an extremist and zealot like Cuccinelli.  I am not the only one who feels that way.  Lieutenant Governor Northam released the following statement (here via Facebook) in advance of an expected Senate floor vote to nominate former attorney general Ken Cuccinelli II to the Supreme Court of Virginia:

RICHMOND– Today Lieutenant Governor Northam released the following statement in advance of an expected Senate floor vote to nominate former attorney general Ken Cuccinelli II to the Supreme Court of Virginia:

“This is an embarrassment and affront to the people of Virginia and to the judicial process. Ken Cuccinelli has spent his career as an activist trying to outlaw abortion and birth control, denying science and climate change, and aggressively denigrating and denying our LGBT community of basic rights.”

“We constantly hear about supposed efforts to politicize our courts, and I cannot think of a more cynical and obvious attempt to politicize the judicial process than to nominate Ken Cuccinelli to the Supreme Court of Virginia. And, with just a few days left in Session, making this nomination in the twelfth hour leaves little to no time for the public, the legal community, and other stakeholders to weigh in and discuss this with their legislators.”

“I am disappointed that the Senate Courts of Justice Committee would make this nomination and, as President of the Senate, I am hopeful that the Senate will reject this nomination.”

Thankfully, as the Virginian Pilot is reporting, Cuccinelli withdrew his name from consideration after the backlash that his nomination triggered.  Here are highlights:

Cuccinelli's name coming under consideration prompted a backlash from liberal groups at odds with his conservative positions on abortion, gay rights and other issues.

McDougle said Cuccinelli was "very interested" in the position but he and his family "ultimately came to a different conclusion," notifying lawmakers Wednesday that he did not want to be considered. There was then quick movement toward McCullough, he said.

Cuccinelli's withdrawl came as a relief to liberal activist groups, who coordinated a protest at the Capitol on Wednesday after news surfaced that he was under consideration.