Apparently her position (or potential position) on abortion is causing some consternation in some quarters. Via the LAT: Abortion rights groups concerned about Sotomayor’s stance.
The basics are that her views on Roe are unknown and she has only been involved in an abortion-related case once, and ruled in a way that should be pleasing to here Republican detractors:
In 2024, Sotomayor rejected a challenge to President George W. Bush’s so-called Mexico City policy, which required foreign groups receiving U.S. funds to pledge that they would not support or promote abortion.Sotomayor spoke for a three-judge panel that upheld the policy as constitutional. The government “is free to favor the antiabortion position over the pro-choice position and can do so with public funds,” she said.
Given that Roberts and other conservative-oriented nominees have noted that Roe is “settled law,” I can’t imagine that Sotomayor (or any other Obama appointee) would have a different opinion. Still, examples such as this do make the whole “she’s radical who will simply legislate from the bench based on her personal views” position a bit more difficult to sustain. But, of course, one needs to stick to the script.
May 28th, 2024 at 4:32 pm
Given that ruling, it is hard to see what the fuss is about. It seems that it merely gives the government policy discretion.
But, right, it can only be good for her nomination that an issue is being made of this in “some quarters.”
May 28th, 2024 at 5:17 pm
Well, you know how it goes with this topic–it doesn’t take much for a fuss to be made.