About that SCOTUS Business…
by Sarah Nichols on Jul 18, 2018
Have you been hearing a lot of talk about the Supreme Court, or have you heard the name “Brett Kavanaugh” floating around a lot recently?
That’s because President Trump recently nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh for the vacant spot on the Supreme Court. This has concerned many advocates for women’s health—including us—because Roe v. Wade hangs in the balance.
But what does all of this really mean?
Last Friday we sat down with Susan Dunn, the legal director for the ACLU SC. She helped us unpack this and more, with the help of our audience asking some insightful questions.
Did you miss it? You can watch the full livestream here:
We are LIVE with Susan Dunn of ACLU SC to discuss Trump's SCOTUS pick and what it means for us women and citizens of SC. Comment with any questions you may have. #KavanaughSCOTUS
Posted by Women's Rights and Empowerment Network- WREN on Friday, July 13, 2018
Here are some of the main takeaways:
- Why is a Supreme Court nomination a big deal?
- One vote out of nine is important, and the justices serve for life.
- He’s a conservative. According to Susan’s analysis and speculation, he’s more conservative than Chief Justice John Roberts, but probably less conservative than Justice Clarence Thomas.
- It’s not uncommon for justices to shift their stances during their time serving, so it is hard to predict how he (or any) justice will rule.
- Reproductive rights do not exist in a silo; they exist in the context of medical practices and medical theory of autonomy.
- Kavanuagh has had few rulings in direct connection with Roe v. Wade.
- His most recent related ruling was against a young immigrant woman who needed abortion care.
So what now?
Learn more about Judge Kavanaugh and the role the Supreme Court plays in determining the future of Roe v. Wade by watching the full video, and share with your friends to help them stay informed.
Click this link to tell your Senators to oppose Judge Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court.
And take into account what Susan Dunn has to say:
“I’ve been doing this work for a long time, so I’ve seen it ebb and flow. And it’s not where I want it to be right now, but I can say it is worth doing. So keep the faith, take care of yourself, support each other, and don’t let them get you down.”