As sexual assault allegations made by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford threw then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation into contention, several media outlets requested input from Wigdor LLP Founding Partner Douglas H. Wigdor, a former prosecutor who represents victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault by high-profile men.
On Wednesday, September 19, 2018, Mr. Wigdor was featured in an article published by The Washington Post on the subject of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Mr. Wigdor reminded The Post that the hearing is not a trial; rather, it is a chance for the Judiciary Committee to advise the Senate on whether to confirm Judge Kavanaugh.
Because Dr. Ford will be questioned by senators who have already criticized the credibility of her allegations, Mr. Wigdor said, it’s important that Dr. Ford’s lawyer knows all the facts of the case before the hearing. Furthermore, Dr. Ford should be ready to respond to each question truthfully and to the best of her abilities — no matter how difficult they are — without being argumentative or defensive, according to Mr. Wigdor. He also noted that Dr. Ford will face the difficulty of having her testimony nationally broadcast on live television:
“With midterm elections around the corner, rather than focusing on whether Kavanaugh is qualified to be on the Supreme Court, politics and cameras in the courtroom will devolve to grandstanding and senators playing to constituents”