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NARAL Pro-Choice America Hails Senate Confirmation of Judge David Hamilton to Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Washington, D.C. – Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, today commended the U.S. Senate for rejecting anti-choice obstructionism and confirming Judge David Hamilton to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals by a vote of 59 to 39.

"We applaud the Senate's vote to confirm the eminently qualified Judge David Hamilton to serve in this critical position," Keenan said. "Anti-choice advocates blocked his confirmation for eight months, but today's vote shows that a majority of senators understand that Americans are tired of the antagonistic politics of the past. It's disappointing that an independent-minded and highly qualified judge such as David Hamilton had to overcome such political obstacles."

Hamilton's confirmation marks the second of three President Obama nominees that NARAL Pro-Choice America is working to confirm as part of its Three-for-Three campaign, launched in April. The first was the confirmation of Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Keenan said her organization will now focus on Prof. Dawn Johnsen; President Obama's pick to head the Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice. Prof. Johnsen is widely respected by legal experts of all ideological backgrounds yet, despite this breadth of support, some senators, including anti-choice Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, are threatening to derail Johnsen's nomination.

More than 70,000 of the organization's activists sent messages to the Senate in support of our Three-for-Three nominees, which were under the constant threat of filibuster. Through a combination of volunteer-led phone banks and robo calls, NARAL Pro-Choice America has reached members in Maine and Pennsylvania, urging them to contact their senators and ask them to support Johnsen's nomination.

Contact:
Samantha Gordon, 202.973.3032