NARAL Pro-Choice Washington responds to reports that Justice Souter will retire
In response to reports that Supreme Court Justice David Souter plans to retire at the end of the current court term this summer, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington is calling on President Obama to select a nominee who values the right to privacy and women’s health. “The individual selected to fill this vacancy will have a profound impact on the lives of ordinary Washington families for generations to come,” said Karen Cooper, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington. “We have already seen the adverse effects of the last two appointments, far-right Chief Justice Roberts and Associate Justice Alito. In order to preserve some semblance of balance on the Court and to protect a woman’s right to choose, we are looking to President Obama to select a fair-minded replacement for Justice Souter.” “The future of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, and by extension the future of women's rights and health, hangs in the balance. It is imperative that President Obama select a nominee who firmly and unwaveringly supports the right to privacy and a woman's right to choose. To do anything less would jeopardize the health, welfare, and lives of American women.” “Washington’s – and America’s – pro-choice majority expects the President to select just such a nominee,” Cooper added. “Last November, Americans voted for change. The nomination of a Supreme Court justice who supports women’s health will be a much-welcome break from the former President Bush’s attempts to stack the courts with right-wing ideologues.” “Pro-choice Washingtonians are mobilizing to protect their hard-fought freedoms,” Cooper concluded. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington will activate a network of over 20,000 members who will conduct petition drives, contact their lawmakers, and distribute flyers and information on the significance of a Supreme Court vacancy and the need for a justice who respects this country’s long tradition of personal freedom. They will urge President Obama to nominate a justice with an established record in support of the right to privacy. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington is the leading grassroots pro-choice advocacy organization in Washington State. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington works to protect every woman’s right to access the full range of reproductive health options, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington is the state affiliate of NARAL Pro-Choice America. ###
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