(Washington, DC – September 26, 2020) Just a week after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing, the New York Times has reported that President Donald Trump has nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States, in defiance of Justice Ginsburg’s last request. Despite the Senate Majority Leader’s staunch stance in 2016, the President and Senator Mitch McConnell appear poised to force through Judge Barrett’s confirmation prior to Election Day. The National Women’s Political Caucus stands ardently opposed to Judge Barrett’s confirmation to the highest court in the land.  Judge Barrett has a strident anti-choice record, citing abortion as “always immoral,” and previously upholding restrictions on abortion while on the bench. It is also important to note this nominee has openly endorsed extreme views on the doctrine of stare decisis, the principle that the court should not lightly overrule its precedents.” 

In a 2013 law review article on Precedent and Jurisprudential Disagreement, Barrett wrote, “I tend to agree with those who say that a justice’s duty is to the Constitution and that it is thus more legitimate for her to enforce her best understanding of the Constitution rather than a precedent she thinks clearly in conflict with it.” 

“Judge Barrett’s record demonstrates she does not reflect the overwhelming majority of Americans’ views on personal freedom and reproductive health. We must wait until after Inauguration Day to fill Justice Ginsburg’s seat with someone who embodies the values and freedoms she honored,” said NWPC President Donna Lent.  Given the 200,000 Americans who have lost their lives and the millions of families upended by the COVID-19 crisis, the National Women’s Political Caucus urges the President and the Senate to focus on ensuring Americans’ health and safety rather than pushing their anti-woman agenda.

About the National Women’s Political Caucus
The National Women’s Political Caucus, founded in 1971, is a national, multi-partisan, grassroots membership organization dedicated to identifying, recruiting, training, and supporting women candidates for elected and appointed office.

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