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May 26, 2009
RCRC Commends Obama's Nomination
of Sonia Sotomayor to U.S. Supreme Court
Statement of Reverend Dr. Carlton W. Veazey, President and
CEO, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, which advocates
for laws and policies that are just and compassionate to families
and that accommodate differing religious and moral viewpoints,
commends President Barack Obama's nomination to the United
States Supreme Court of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, a jurist who
has indicated she will apply her personal understanding of
the struggles of ordinary Americans to her legal rulings.
With today's historic nomination of federal appeals court
judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama has fulfilled his promise
to appoint a jurist with outstanding legal credentials as
well as empathy for the daily struggles of individuals and
families. If confirmed for the seat that has been held by
Justice David H. Souter, Judge Sotomayor would be the first
Hispanic and only the third woman to serve on the nation’s
highest court.
In a moving introduction of Judge Sotomayor at the White
House this morning, President Obama described the judge as
a person who combines great legal acumen and a belief in the
rule of law with a common-sense understanding of how the law
affects people every day.
In addition to her varied and extensive legal and judicial
experience, Judge Sotomayor would bring to the Court the experiences
of a person who grew up in a South Bronx public housing project
and overcame difficult challenges to achieve academic and
professional success. After her father died, the judge's mother
struggled to make a good life for her and her brother. Despite
the challenges her family faced, Judge Sotomayor attended
Princeton and Yale Law School, served as an Assistant District
Attorney, worked as a corporate litigator in a New York law
firm, and went on to become the first Latina appointed to
the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Judge Sotomayor has said she believes judges' legal findings
are informed by their own life experiences as well as their
legal research.
The confirmation process will allow the Senate and the American
people the opportunity to learn even more about this very
impressive woman and jurist.
Justice David Souter to Retire
May 1, 2009
U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter will retire at the
end of the court's term in June. As a faithful advocate
for women and families, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive
Choice urges President Obama to replace the liberal Souter
with another consistent supporter of reproductive rights.
The U.S. Supreme Court - the highest court in our land - is
the protector of fundamental rights that ensure the safety,
security, and freedoms of all Americans. While the Supreme
Court supports the underlying principles of Roe
v. Wade, it does so by the razor-thin margin of
5-4. (Justice Souter is counted as a supporter of Roe.)
Given that narrow balance, President Obama's nominee should recognize
that there are a wide range of religious beliefs and moral
views about abortion and other reproductive decisions and
no one viewpoint should be enshrined in law above all others.
The Supreme Court must protect the fundamental right
of women to make reproductive health decisions in keeping
with their religious beliefs and conscience.
The decisions made by the Supreme Court directly influence
the lives of every American, but vulnerable populations often
have the most at stake. In recent years, women
have lost protections for their reproductive health and safety
at the hands of the Supreme Court, and more threats loom
on the horizon.
- Just two years ago, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Gonzales v. Carhart to uphold the Federal Abortion Ban, which, for the first time, banned a specific medical procedure without an exception for a woman's health.
- Anti-choice forces have been working tirelessly in several states to pass "fetal rights" measures in hopes that such legislation will be challenged in court and the Supreme Court will eventually be forced to reexamine - and overturn - Roe.
To keep our supporters informed, our Call to Justice campaign will be following every step of the Supreme Court nomination process. You can help by talking to your friends, family, and congregation about the importance of this vacancy with respect to women's health and safety. Encourage them to sign up for our Call to Justice action alerts so they can be informed and take action to protect our fundamental rights and safety.
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