Planned Parenthood Speaks Out on Anniversary of Kavanaugh’s Confirmation as Supreme Court Takes up First Abortion Case

Planned Parenthood reiterates its call for a full investigation into the multiple allegations of sexual assault against Kavanaugh that the Senate has ignored

WASHINGTON — Today, Planned Parenthood Action Fund joined partners on the steps of the Supreme Court to call on Congress to launch a full investigation into the accusations of sexual assault against Brett Kavanaugh and protect the courts from Trump’s anti-abortion nominees across the country. The event marked the one-year anniversary of Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court, and comes just days after the Court announced it is taking up an abortion case from Louisiana in which Kavanaugh could be the deciding vote.

Statement from Anisha Singh, Director of Judiciary and Democracy Affairs, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

“One year ago, 50 senators — including those who profess to support and stand with women — did not allow for a full investigation of the allegations against Kavanaugh. Now we’ve learned the disturbing news that a rushed process ignored multiple serious accusations of sexual misconduct against a nominee to the nation’s highest court. The senators who voted for Brett Kavanaugh ignored the voices of survivors, and the will of the American people, and voted to imperil affordable health care for millions. They voted to put on the line the constitutional right for people to make their own health care decisions, including the nearly 1 in 4 women who have had an abortion in their lifetime. This is a dangerous precedent for our democracy. People need to be able to trust the Supreme Court will protect their fundamental rights and freedoms.

“But this is beyond one seat on one court — Trump and the Republican Senate have worked tirelessly to nominate anti-abortion judges to courts across the country. Now, Kavanaugh could be the deciding vote on a case that represents the most grave threat to Roe v. Wade since Trump became president. Planned Parenthood will continue to fight for greater health care access for all, and against any and all judges who put our health and rights at risk. We must protect our courts.”  

The consequences of Kavanaugh’s confirmation for Americans’ reproductive rights came into clear focus on Friday, when the Supreme Court agreed to reconsider its own 2016 decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt by reviewing Louisiana’s Act 620. If the Court allows this Louisiana law to stand, it will be breaking with its own precedent and dismantling constitutional protections to abortion access. If the Court overturns Roe or renders it meaningless, it could leave 25 million women of reproductive age in America at further risk of losing access to abortion.

Since becoming president, Trump and Senate Republicans have moved aggressively to fill judicial vacancies left after the Senate blocked President Obama’s nominees. Currently, more than 150 judges, including nearly one in four Circuit Court judges have been appointed by Trump. Numerous states have passed some of the most extreme anti-abortion bans in the country, and now the very courts needed to block those bans have judges nominated by Trump. 

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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 electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.