FRANKFORT (Oct. 17, 2020) – Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Ryan Quarles joined 9 other statewide-elected secretaries and commissioners of agriculture in sending a letter of support to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee for the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

“I am proud to join this coalition of agricultural leaders to support Judge Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court,” Commissioner Quarles said. “As a lawyer and the leader of Kentucky’s agricultural community, I know how important it is to have Supreme Court justices who have the upmost fidelity to the Constitution and leave the law-making to elected representatives. Judge Barrett has shown throughout her career that she is committed to that vision and I urge the Senate to move quickly to confirm her as soon as possible.”

The letter from the elected agricultural leaders noted “the Supreme Court was clearly not created or designed to be an extension of the legislative branch,” and praised Judge Barrett for holding a judicial philosophy that “respects the roles of co-equal branches of government and protects powers reserved to the states.”

“Judicial activism can negatively affect small businesses, which I consider our 75,000 family farms to be,” Commissioner Quarles added. “I applaud this nomination and appreciate the attention that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Rand Paul are giving it.”

The letter was led by Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain of Louisiana, and was co-signed by the Commissioners and Secretaries of Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Iowa, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia.

Download a copy of the letter here.