Duane Davila: The Most Chilling Image From The Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings

Jamie Guttenberg

I’ve spent most of today on Twitter. Scrolling all day on social media can be a bleak existence, but sometimes it’s necessary. Today’s efforts were to gather all the relevant tweets for those that are interested in the confirmation hearings of Brett Kavanaugh, but not be able to spend the day listening to CNN — you know, like the majority of Above the Law’s audience.

One subplot that has come up (it was initially in the ATL livecap of the hearing, but we’ve pulled them into this new post, as the details have emerged) was Fred Guttenberg, father of Jaime Guttenberg who was killed in the Parkland massacre, attempting to introduce himself to Judge Kavanaugh as the hearing broke for lunch. Judge Kavanaugh turned away from Guttenberg and refused to shake his hand. This is how Guttenberg himself described the confrontation:

Just walked up to Judge Kavanaugh as morning session ended. Put out my hand to introduce myself as Jaime Guttenberg's dad. He pulled his hand back, turned his back to me and walked away. I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence.

— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) September 4, 2018

Associated Press photographer Andrew Harnik caught the stunning moment, where Kavanaugh refuses to treat Guttenberg with the most basic of human dignity.

Fred Guttenberg, the father of Jamie Guttenberg who was killed in the shooting in Parkland, Fla., left, tries to shake hands with @realDonaldTrump's Supreme Court nom., Brett Kavanaugh, right, during a lunch break. Kavanaugh did not shake his hand. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) @ap pic.twitter.com/smcCGuLT6X

— Andrew Harnik (@andyharnik) September 4, 2018

And this video clip makes it clear Guttenberg explained exactly who he is, and you can see Kavanaugh’s utter refusal to engage with this father.

Remember, during today’s hearing lots of minutes were spent listening to what a great guy Kavanaugh is, and how the girls he coaches in basketball just love him. But when a father who lost his teenage daughter in an unacceptably violent act asked for nothing more than a handshake and some acknowledgement of the human cost of the soaring American gun violence, Judge Kavanaugh couldn’t be bothered.

Remember, this morning conservatives were livid that liberals weren't "willing to listen to other ideas" when they were complaining that Steve Bannon deserved a private junket from the New Yorker. https://t.co/FTmKV8ajXl

— Joe Patrice (@JosephPatrice) September 4, 2018

Brett Kavanaugh is going to be the next Supreme Court justice. Given the current political makeup of the federal government, there’s little chance that we won’t soon be referring to him as Justice Kavanaugh very soon. But that image of refusing to shake the hand of a father who lost his daughter earlier this year should disturb people of every political stripe. And remember this moment every time someone tries to tell you Kavanaugh is a “good guy.”

headshot Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).