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Pro-Life Works: Justice Stephens Retires April 16, 2010 Justice Stephens Retires by Adam Black Political Director Legislative Team On April 9, 2010, Associate Justice John Paul Stevens announced his retirement from the United State Supreme Court. Stevens has been one of the most liberal members of the court since his appointment by President Gerald Ford in 1975. While Stevens was not on the court when the infamous Roe vs. Wade decision was handed down in 1973, he has voted on numerous abortion-related cases during his 34-year tenure. In every instance, he voted in favor of abortion on demand and against innocent human life. Writing in the first partial-birth abortion case in 2000, Stevens wrote that the State did not have a legitimate interest in banning the procedure that even supporters of abortion deemed infanticide. Stevens’ support for abortion was so prominent that Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards declared him “A Champion for Women’s Health.” With the court split 5-4 in favor of abortion, the retirement of Justice Stevens may cause some in the Right to Life movement to celebrate, but unfortunately President Barack Obama has given no indication that he would consider appointing a justice that opposes Roe vs. Wade. During the presidential campaign in 2007, President Obama went so far as to promise that he would sign a bill that enshrined Roe into law. The Right to Life movement expects President Obama to appoint someone who views the constitution with same flexibility that has marked the tenure of not only Justice Stevens, but Justices Breyer, Ginsberg, and Sotomayor. This is not to say that we should sit back and allow such an appointment to go unchallenged. In the coming weeks, when President Obama makes known his appointment to replace Stevens, Texas Right to Life will carefully review the appointee’s record and, if necessary, announce our opposition. We will continue to keep you up-to-date on our efforts as well as what you can do to make your views known to the President and Congress. |
