Contrary to Collins' assurances, Kavanaugh votes to restrict abortion rights

In a five-to-four decision, the U.S. Supreme Court announced tonight that it has blocked an attempt by the state of Louisiana to radically restrict access to abortion, with Chief Justice John Roberts joining the more liberal justices in the majority opinion. Recently-confirmed Justice Brett Kavanaugh dissented and argued that the law, which placed medically-unnecessary restrictions on doctors who perform abortions, should be allowed to go into effect.

Kavanaugh’s stance on the case contradicts the Supreme Court’s five-to-three decision in 2016 striking down a similar Texas law in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt and would seem to fly in the face of assurances made by Senator Susan Collins, who cast a crucial vote for his confirmation, that Kavanaugh would respect previous precedent and not seek to erode abortion rights.

“To my knowledge, Judge Kavanaugh is the first Supreme Court nominee to express the view that precedent is not merely a practice and tradition, but rooted in Article III of our Constitution itself. He believes that precedent ‘is not just a judicial policy … it is constitutionally dictated to pay attention and pay heed to rules of precedent.’ In other words, precedent isn’t a goal or an aspiration; it is a constitutional tenet that has to be followed except in the most extraordinary circumstances,” said Collins in a speech from the Senate floor.

At the time, legal and health care experts repeatedly warned Collins that these claims were legally meaningless and that Kavanaugh’s past actions showed he would likely vote to restrict reproductive rights.

Read more: https://mainebeacon.com/contrary-to-collins-assurances-kavanaugh-just-voted-to-restrict-abortion-rights/