Minnesota law professor changes Kavanaugh support after Ford testimony

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - While others are standing behind Judge Brett Kavanaugh, a longtime friend and former classmate from Minnesota has changed his support of the Supreme Court nominee. 

With immense sadness, St. Thomas University law Professor Mark Osler said he was shocked by Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s testimony Thursday. 

“I believe Dr. Ford, and I can’t reconcile that with believing him,” Osley said.

Just a few weeks ago, after his Supreme Court nomination by the President, Osler was among 23 of Kavanaugh's former Yale law school classmates who signed a letter of support.

“Even though I disagree with him on a lot of things, he has apparently been a good judge on the Court of Appeals and he’s someone who has been a friend of me,” said Osler. “But in that very public moment, I think something went really wrong.” 

While Kavanaugh notes 65 women have signed a letter of support, this week Professor Osler became one of three former classmates who publicly changed their minds and pushed for an FBI investigation.

“What I saw yesterday was deeply troubling, especially how he treated our Senator Amy Klobuchar,” said Osler.

“What was difficult about that is part of the job that he seeks is dealing with coequal branches of government with Congress with the White House and if that’s the way he deals with coequal branches of government, it’s seems like a problem to me,” said Osler.

Among his many concerns as the vote moves toward the Senate, Osler fears if approved this experience will place Kavanaugh in a similar position as Justice Clarence Thomas. Anita Hill, his former employee, accused him of sexually harassing her. She testified during his nomination hearings in 1991. Osler says the so-called "emotional bunker" could be detrimental to those who respect the law and entire country.

“If we have two justices on the Supreme Court that are that way, that’s not going to be good for the cases that come before them because they involve issues that are at the center of our public morality,” said Osler.

During their time in law school together, Osler said he had classes with Kavanaugh. They lived around the corner from one another and socialized frequently. During that time he said he never witnessed behavior by Kavanaugh like what is being alleged.