Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana grilled the U.S. District Court judge nominee for the Western District of New York.
Kennedy questions Vacca in Judiciary
On 6/5/2024, Senator Kennedy Grills Judicial Nominee Over Past Comments on Institutional Racism
Meredith A. Vacca, a New York state judge nominated by President Biden to serve on a federal district court, faced intense questions during her first Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
“You’re a political activist, aren’t you, Judge?” Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, asked Vacca after questioning her about past comments she made concerning institutional racism and the criminal justice system.
Kennedy:”Judge Vacca, you are an organization called the National Asian-Pacific American Bar Association, are you not?”
Vacca:”I was, Senator. My membership lapsed at the beginning of this year, but I was a member for two years.”
Kennedy: “My record shows you were a member for 22 years.”
Vacca:”That was a mistake. And I actually sent a letter after I saw that mistake to the committee, so it was two years.”
Kennedy: “And the NAPABA is funded by Mr. George Soros, is it not?”
Vacca:”Senator, I’m not familiar with the funding. I was a member, and I paid the dues, but I had no contact with any of the members there and that’s why I let my membership lapse.”
Kennedy:”Its website, uh, says it’s supported by the Open Society Foundation which was founded by Mr. George Soros. Now, NAPABA in uh, March 2023, while you were still a member, NAPABA issued a statement and it said that it “supports transgender—allowing transgender intersex girls and women to participate in all sports.” Is that correct?”
Vacca:”Senator, I’m not familiar with NAPABA’s statement so I’ll take your word for it.”
Kennedy:”You didn’t know anything about that?”
Vacca:”No, Senator, I really joined the organization because I thought it would give me a community of other Asian American attorneys and judges, but I didn’t have any interaction with anyone in the group. I didn’t attend any meetings or vote, and so I’m not aware of any statement or any statement made by NAPABA.”
Kennedy:”So this is all an epiphany to you? Is that right?”
Vacca: “Yes, Senator.”
Kennedy:”Now NAPABA also issued a statement that said the following: “It supports state and local governmental entities that choose not to honor ICE detainer requests and that also decline to detain individuals solely on the basis of an ICE detainer request.” So, NAPABA opposes supporting ICE. Is that correct?”
Vacca: “From what you just read, Senator, I guess. I haven’t read that statement, but I can tell you, Senator, that I don’t ascribe to any of those statements that you’ve just read to me.”
Kennedy:”Judge, in October of 2020, you ran for judge, is that right?”
Vacca:”Yes.”
Kennedy:”OK, and on a talk radio interview you said and I quote: ‘We also need to recognize the effects of racism on our criminal justice system. Institutional racism impacts all of society. I think that is amplified in our criminal justice system. We see that in the disproportionate number of black men and women being incarcerated and convicted.” Did I read that correctly?”
Vacca:”Senator, I haven’t listened to that particular show but I’ll take your word for it.”
Kennedy: “Uh, you think our criminal justice system is institutionally racist? Do you?”
Vacca: “Senator, I don’t believe our criminal justice system by its nature is racist –”
Kennedy:”Why did you say that?”
Vacca:”What I meant by that is that I believe there are racial disparities in our communities–”
Kennedy: “Yeah, but we know there’s racism in all of our communities, unfortunately. But that’s not what you said. You said the criminal justice system is not just racist, it’s institutionally racist. And then you said that, and I’m gonna quote your words not mine: “The disproportionate number of black men and women incarcerated and convicted were because of race. Did you say that?”
Vacca:”Senator, what I was talking about was the racial disparities in–”
Kennedy: “and you said it solely has to do with the color of a person’s skin? Do you really believe that, Judge?”
Vacca:”Well no, Senator, I don’t believe that at all.”
Kennedy:”Well why did you say it? You said it, while you were running for Judge, you said it in front of *indistinguishable” live”
Vacca:”What I said Senator was that I recognize that racial disparities in our community can influence–“
Kennedy:”That’s not what I’m–“
Vacca:”rates of incarceration.”
Kennedy:”That’s not what you said, you’re a political activist aren’t you judge?”
Vacca:”No not at all, Senator.”
https://www.facebook.com/HygoNewsUSA/videos/1402555530446674
Kennedy grilled Her on Asian-Pacific American Bar Assoc’s Transgender, ICE & Institutional Racism