Brett Kavanaugh Says Roe V. Wade is an ‘Important Precedent’ During Confirmation Hearing
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh said Wednesday that he “understand[s] the importance of the precedent set forth in Roe v. Wade,” giving liberals something to feel relieved about with a nominee who, by all rights, was set to look to overturn the abortion statute.
“Do you agree with Justice [Sandra Day] O’Connor that a woman’s right to control her reproductive life impacts her ability to ‘participate equally in the economic and social life of the nation?'” Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) asked Kavanaugh.
“As a general proposition, I understand the importance of the precedent set forth in Roe V. Wade,” Kavanaugh replied, reciting the precedents established in Roe as well is in Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
But this was, understandably, not good enough for Feinstein, who was looking to get to the heart of whether Kavanaugh believed Roe was “correct law.”
“Have your views on whether Roe is settled precedent or could be overturned and [have] your views changed since you were in the Bush White House?” she asked.
“Senator, I said that it is settled as a precedent of the Supreme Court entitled to respect under principles of stare decisis,” Kavanaugh explained. “And one of the important things to keep in mind about Roe V. Wade is that it has been reaffirmed many times over the past 45 years as you know. And most prominently, most importantly, reaffirmed in Planned Parenthood V. Casey in 1992. And as you well recall, Senator I know when that case came up the Supreme Court didn’t just reaffirm it in passing, the court specifically went through all the factors of stare decisis in considering whether to overrule it.”
“I understand how passionate and how deeply people feel about this issue,” he added. “I understand the importance of the issue. I understand the importance that people attach to the Roe V. Wade decision, to the planned Parenthood versus Casey decision. I don’t live in a bubble.”
Watch above, via CNN.
[image via screengrab]
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