Washington, D.C., July 9, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Members of the Women's Coalition for Justice have weighed in on Judge Sonia Sotomayor in advance of her Senate confirmation hearings beginning next Monday. The women leaders expressed alarm both at Sotomayor's penchant for judicial activism and identity politics, and at the evidence pointing to the conclusion that Sotomayor is a supporter unlimited abortion.
The facts, they say, point to Sotomayor as an even more radical choice to round out the court than her predecessor, retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter.
“Women are best protected by the rule of law – and blind justice,” stated Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of the Susan B. Anthony List. “Their rights are most endangered when personal preference, ideology or painful personal history inform judgment.
“When evidence of personal preference appears in any Supreme Court nominee's judgment, it should give all women pause.
“Sonia Sotomayor's record of support for judicial activism and her work for the pro-abortion Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund offer little comfort that she will be a friend to the unborn on the Supreme Court. Given what we know about Sonia Sotomayor's own judicial philosophy, including her support of policymaking from the bench, senators have just cause to reject her appointment to the United States Supreme Court.”
Genevieve Wood, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, The Heritage Foundation, called it “deeply offensive” that Sotomayor suggested “that the sexes and ethnicities 'have basic differences in logic and reasoning,' and even more offensive that she believes it is somehow patriotic to indulge in gender or ethnic biases.”
“Her statements raise grave concerns about whether she can truly be impartial and the current defense that she simply endorses including different perspectives doesn't hold water,” said Wood.
Connie Mackey, Senior Vice President for FRCAction rejected Sen. Chuch Schumer's fear that rejecting Sotomayor would cause the GOP to lose women's votes.
“I believe his crystal ball is cloudy when it comes to women in America,” said Mackey. “Women think independently and most women will see that Sonia Sotomayor is a judicial activist who will use the courts to make policy reflective of her own personal judgments as opposed to ruling based upon the tenets put forth by the Constitution.”
“It's important for the American people to understand that the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court will dramatically shift the dynamics of the Court,” warned Charmaine Yoest, President and CEO of Americans United for Life.
“Her record of activism in support of a radical pro-abortion agenda is clear and documented. This is a judge with a record significantly worse than Judge Souter's.
“We are asking the Senate Judiciary Committee to seriously consider the consequences of confirming a Supreme Court justice whose radical record shows she would rule against all common-sense legal protections for the unborn, including parental notification, informed consent and bans on partial-birth abortion. The American people will not tolerate a nominee who is outside the mainstream of American public opinion.”
President of Concerned Women for America Wendy Wright stated that Sotomayor's record “reveals she lacks the primary characteristic required of a judge – impartiality.”
“Through her work as a judge and in organizations,” said Wright, “she has denied people equal opportunity to make a living because of the color of their skin, preborn babies their right to live, and women the right not to be exploited by abortionists.
“After giving her the benefit of the doubt, her record of giving preferences to certain classes of people and denying equal justice to others obliges Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee to oppose her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Sonia Sotomayor has disqualified herself from the U.S. Supreme Court. Senators need to set aside their party loyalty and do their Constitutional duty to uphold equal justice for all by opposing Sonia Sotomayor's nomination.”
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Supreme Court Overrules Sotomayor Decision against White Firefighters
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09062905.html
More Briefs Surface Showing Sotomayor's Abortion Ties
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09061203.html
Senator: Sotomayor Says She “Never Thought About” Rights of Unborn
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09061101.html
Brief Linked to Sotomayor Endorses “Fundamental Right” to Abortion
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09060802.html