Senate Republicans Continue to Ignore Congressional Norms in Efforts to Confirm Anti-Choice Nominees
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After Senate Republicans held a hearing on anti-choice judicial nominee Eric Miller for the Ninth Circuit, despite the Senate being in recess and unanimous opposition from Democrats, and despite two negative blue-slips from his home state senators, NARAL Pro-Choice America Vice President Adrienne Kimmell released the following statement:
“In their desperation to enshrine Donald Trump’s worldview, Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans continue to ignore congressional protocol to ram through as many anti-choice judicial nominees as possible. Eric Miller’s nomination advanced today despite Congress being in recess and despite united opposition from Democrats, including both of Miller’s home-state senators. These disturbing breaks from precedent should sound the alarm bells to anyone who values the integrity of our federal courts. Even more alarming is the fact that these illegitimate tactics are being used by the GOP to push through anti-choice extremists like Miller to serve for a lifetime on the federal bench. The GOP puts on display its blatant disregard for the sanctity of our democratic values and processes, proving once again that they will do anything to advance their brutal agenda by any means necessary.”
Eric Miller’s nomination is proceeding without the blue slips of both Sen. Cantwell and Sen. Murray, a break from longtime congressional norms. Miller filed a brief in Women’s Medical Professional Corporation v. Taft in support of an Ohio law that bans a safe abortion procedure. In a separate case, Miller argued that the military insurance policy CHAMPUS (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services) need not cover abortion care for a woman with a non-viable pregnancy. Miller has also, in his personal capacity, signed several letters to the Senate Judiciary Committee endorsing anti-choice judicial nominations.
To learn more about the anti-choice records of Trump’s other judicial nominees, visit NARAL’s judicial nominees webpage.
NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all Americans. NARAL works to guarantee that every woman has the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. In recognition of its work defending our constitutional right to choose, Fortune Magazine described NARAL as “one of the top 10 advocacy groups in America.”