[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 109 (Thursday, June 22, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           U.S. SUPREME COURT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, this month, the Supreme Court will 
issue some of the term's most consequential decisions. And if past is 
prologue, Washington Democrats will let the topline outcome of the 
cases determine their view of the Court's institutional legitimacy.
  A year ago this week, the Court corrected a half-century of badly 
reasoned precedent under Roe v. Wade that cost our Nation millions of 
innocent lives. The Democratic leader responded by accusing an 
``extremist MAGA court'' of bringing on ``one of the darkest days our 
country has ever seen.'' But almost a year later, when the same exact 
Court issued a ruling he agreed with, the Democratic leader celebrated 
that ``democracy held firm.''
  Democracy held firm--but only because the Court's opinion aligned 
with our colleague's political preferences. Unfortunately, this has 
been Washington Democrats' playbook for years. They have taught their 
base that, when they can't accomplish their political ends from within 
our institutions, it is the institutions that need to go.
  Last year, intimidation at the Supreme Court took an especially vivid 
turn. Activists threatened members of the Court and their families. One 
individual even plotted to assassinate a Justice. Here in Congress, 
Democrats have responded by trying to take hostage funding for the 
Justices' security unless a coequal branch of government restructured 
itself.
  The nine Justices of the Supreme Court are empowered by the 
Constitution to function above the political winds. And they should 
continue to do exactly that, no matter how many Washington Democrats 
demand otherwise.

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