Planned Parenthood Celebrates the Nomination of Julie Rikelman to the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
For Immediate Release: July 29, 2022
WASHINGTON — Today, President Biden announced the nomination of Julie Rikelman for a judgeship on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Rikelman has argued multiple abortion rights cases at the United States Supreme Court, including June Medical Services v. Russo and Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, celebrated this news:
“Julie Rikelman is one of our nation’s brightest legal minds and will be an extraordinary addition to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Her decades of experience at the forefront of protecting abortion rights, including arguing in the Supreme Court in June Medical Services v. Russo and more recently Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, demonstrates her steadfast commitment to reproductive rights and the freedoms of all Americans. In this moment of uncertainty and unprecedented attacks on abortion, we need judges like Rikelman who will stand up for our rights and pursue equal justice for all. Thank you President Biden for this important nomination and I strongly urge the U.S. Senate to swiftly confirm Rikelman.”
For decades, Rikelman has been a tactful litigator, and successfully led efforts to preserve access to abortion, including medication abortion, overturn an invasive ultrasound law, defend the rights of young people to access abortion in Florida and Alaska, and more. In particular, in June Medical Services, decided in June 2020, Rikelman helped secure a critical win for patients and abortion advocates when the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law that would have had disastrous impacts on health care access for patients in the state.
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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy, and limited electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.