By Armchair Mayor

Precautionary principle may be the answer to Kavanaugh mess

Oct 1, 2018 | 7:15 AM

KAMLOOPS — THE FBI INVESTIGATION into U.S. Supreme Court justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh is underway and the G-Men have till the end of the week to wrap it up.

My fellow editorialist James Peters wrote Friday on concerns that due process has become a casualty in the issue of sexual abuse against women. I agree with what he had to say, but there’s a way out of the Kavanaugh mess.

The conundrum is this: an entirely believable accuser is unable to corroborate a sexual assault by Kavanaugh she says happened 36 years ago. An emotional, angry Kavanaugh passionately denies he did it, and says his good name has forever been tarnished.

I watched for several hours last week as this drama played out on TV, and I believe Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.

I don’t like Kavanaugh after watching his evasiveness and his smart-ass retorts to senators asking him questions.

Week In Review

Week in Review: Week of April 20, 2026

Apr 25, 2026

Two & Out

PETERS: The good, the bad and the ugly of the Pathways meeting

Apr 24, 2026

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: April 23, 2026

Apr 23, 2026

But if this were a trial, Kavanaugh would be acquitted on lack of evidence.

So doesn’t the judge have a right to have his future decided on evidence rather than on what amounts to hearsay, no matter how convincing?

I think there’s more to it than that.

The lack of consistency in the process — the legal system versus the court of public opinion — is having terrible consequences for both accused and accusers.

Why is it that in the entertainment business, when an accusation is made, with a couple of notable exceptions due process barely gets a whiff as careers and lives are discarded? Politicians including the president, on the other hand, often get a free pass.

Then there’s Brett Kavanaugh. His case is unique, and resolvable.

The precautionary principle would suggest that, whether or not there’s proof of Dr. Ford’s allegation beyond her word, a credible accuser should be enough not to take a chance on a man who’s in line for one of the most prestigious and important jobs in his country.

In his case, but not in all, the determining factor should be whether Dr. Ford is believable. And she is.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

by Armchair Mayor

Click here to report an error or typo in this article

Precautionary principle may be the answer to Kavanaugh mess

Our Community