Following Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s announcement that he is retiring from the Supreme Court, abortion advocates and pro-life groups are emphasizing that a pro-life Trump appointee could mean the end of Roe v. Wade.
Justice Kennedy has long been considered the swing vote on the court with four conservative and four liberal justices. If President Trump chooses another conservative, pro-life justice from his promised list, then that could bring about a major change in the court’s decision-making when it comes to abortion access.
Planned Parenthood tweeted shortly after the announcement that “with Kennedy retiring, the right to access abortion in this country is on the line.”
With Kennedy retiring, the right to access abortion in this country is on the line. #SaveSCOTUS pic.twitter.com/IkIg07EtIr
— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) June 27, 2018
The abortion advocacy group NARAL said that the “right to access legal abortion is in DIRE, IMMEDIATE danger.”
With Trump nominating the next Supreme Court Justice, our constitutional right to access legal abortion is in ????????, ?????????????????? danger—along with the fundamental rights of all Americans. #SaveSCOTUS #CourtsMatter #RoevWade
— NARAL (@NARAL) June 27, 2018
The pro-life Susan B. Anthony List group also recognized the significance of this retirement, noting that this was a “pivotal moment.”
“Justice Kennedy’s retirement from the Supreme Court marks a pivotal moment for the fight to ensure every unborn child is welcomed and protected under the law,” SBA List president Marjorie Dannenfelser said. “The most important commitment that President Trump has made to the pro-life movement has been his promise to nominate only pro-life judges to the Supreme Court, a commitment he honored by swiftly nominating Judge Neil Gorsuch.”
“President Trump now has another crucial opportunity to restore respect for life and the Constitution,” she emphasized. “We trust him to follow through on his promise.”
The pro-life student organization, Students for Life, said in a video that “this is the closest we have ever been to overturning Roe v. Wade and bringing the question of abortion back to each state.”