WASHINGTON — President Trump’s choice of Brett Michael Kavanaugh to replace Justice Kennedy’s Supreme Court position has fueled the fire raging between liberals and conservatives regarding the massive changes expected to follow an increasingly right-leaning court system.
Democrats have expressed the most concern for the conservative court’s potential overturn of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion nationwide, allowing abortion rights activists to take a giant step toward providing greater options to women with unplanned pregnancies. Proponents of the Pro-Choice movement fear a reversal of Roe v. Wade, which would allow states to decide individually whether they want to legalize abortion, will reverse years of progress made.
In the past, Trump has expressed a desire to appoint justices who share his belief that greater power should rest with the states and who will work to overturn Roe v. Wade. Although it seems Trump’s choice of Kavanaugh may be rooted in an attempt to carry out this reversal, Kavanaugh has yet to outwardly express any opposition to Roe v. Wade.
Last October, Kavanaugh recognized the importance of upholding Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey “as precedents we must follow” in a Supreme Court case regarding an undocumented immigrant minor seeking an abortion.
Kavanaugh has extensive judicial experience, tracing back to when he was elected as a federal appeals court judge at the age of 38. Since then, he has proven himself as a moderator, participating in a multitude of political controversies along the way. For example, while helping draft the documents that resulted in Clinton’s impeachment, Kavanaugh simultaneously protected some of Clinton’s privacy in opposing the public release of Starr’s report detailing the former President’s instances of unprofessional behavior while in office.
In this way, Kavanaugh has attracted liberal and conservative criticism alike during his time as a judge. Still, Kavanaugh has succeeded in pushing his conservative platform in past Supreme Court decisions regarding the Second Amendment, religious freedom and campaign finance.
Kavanaugh has expressed empathy for religious organizations feeling stripped of their religious freedom, advocating for less government interference. Yet, in the past, Kavanaugh has also demonstrated an understanding of the role of the government to provide for individuals within these religious organizations who are seeking contraceptive options or other support which goes against the beliefs of their organization.
With the appointment of Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Americans should expect to witness his unwavering defense of the constitution, upholding the Second Amendment and rights to religious freedom.
Changes to current abortion rights are possible, given the conservative majority of the Supreme Court, but not definite, as Kavanaugh has demonstrated a desire to uphold precedent, whether it reflects traditional values or not.
