Brett Kavanaugh is Donald Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court. | Photo: YouTube/White House
US President Donald Trump has announced his nominee for a new Justice for the Supreme Court.
At 9pm Washington time, Trump said Brett M. Kavanaugh was his choice for one of the most important jobs in the country.
‘Regarding one of the most profound responsibilities of the President of the United States… this is one of the most important decisions a President can make,’ Trump said during his announcement on the issue.
Trump was forced to pick a new nominee for the Supreme Court after Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement in June.
Kavanaugh does not have a clear cut position on LGBTI issues, but has been endorsed by groups labelled ‘hate groups’ by LGBTI organizations. But he is very vocal about his pro-gun beliefs.
Sharon McGowan, legal director of Lambda Legal told NBC that Kavanaugh was ‘promoted heavily by the Family Research Council in 2005’ when he was first nominated for the US Court of Appeals.
The Southern Poverty Law Center labelled Family Research Council an anti-LGBTQ ‘hate group’. The Family Research Council has said homosexuality is ‘harmful’ and ‘unnatural’.
But it is not known if Kavanaugh shares those views.
Roe vs Wade
Abortion advocacy groups believe Kavanaugh would help overturn the historic Roe vs Wade decision. Roe vs Wade led to abortion being legalized in the US.
‘Brett Kavanaugh was all in to block a young, undocumented woman from accessing abortion and would happily overturn #RoevWade,’ NARAL, a pro-choice advocacy group, wrote on Twitter.
During that case when an undocumented worker in the US was seeking an abortion, Kavanaugh said in his ruling: ‘The Government has permissible interests in favoring fetal life, protecting the best interests of a minor, and refraining from facilitating abortion.’
Last year, Brett Kavanaugh ruled against a young, undocumented woman’s ability to access an abortion. His ruling delayed her procedure, pushing it into the second trimester. #ScotusPick
— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) July 10, 2018
NARAL said all the shortlisted Supreme Court Justice nominees had ‘nothing in their past would indicate that they are anything other than a likely vote to overturn Roe v Wade, criminalize abortion and punish women’.
‘Donald Trump repeatedly promised to only appoint anti-choice Justices and this list seems to to live up that promise,’ NARAL wrote.
‘All Senators should know a vote for any of these judges would be a vote to overturn Roe v Wade, criminalize abortion and punish women.’
Kavanaugh must still face approval from the Senate. But if successful, it will be the first time in 30 years the Supreme Court will have a conservative majority.
There is likely to be a fierce debate ahead before his approval with the New York Times saying: ‘His long record of legal opinions and his work in fierce partisan battles is likely to offer Democrats plenty of ammunition for tough questions.’
