Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, often a critical swing vote, sent our politics into yet another whirlwind Wednesday when he announced his retirement from the bench, immediately triggering reactions on both sides of the aisle.
While many pro-life conservatives see Kennedy’s announcement as good news, many on the left are clutching their pearls over what could result in a challenge to the Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 decision on Roe v. Wade. In fact, one journalist announced that she would be offering free abortions as birthday presents “while I still can.”
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The tweet came from Carla Sosenko, a former executive editor at Entertainment Weekly:
If you are a woman and a friend of mine with a birthday coming up soon, I’m getting you an abortion for a present while I still can. Enjoy it. #JusticeKennedy
— carla sosenko (@carlasosenko) June 27, 2018
Tech journalist Peter Bright encouraged women to get their abortions now “because in a couple of years SCOTUS is gonna overturn Roe v. Wade”:
Better get your abortions now, ladies, because in a couple of years SCOTUS is gonna overturn Roe v Wade.
— Peter Bright ?⚕️? (@DrPizza) June 27, 2018
And Jessica Valenti, a self-described “feminist author,” encouraged her followers to “give generously” to local abortion advocates and providers:
This is a good time to find your local abortion fund and give generously. https://t.co/0gjwCDVAdq
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) June 27, 2018
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) June 27, 2018
Kennedy’s retirement, effective July 31, will give President Donald Trump the opportunity to fill his second Supreme Court vacancy. Last year, he nominated conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch to fill the seat once held by the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
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Trump announced Wednesday he will choose a nominee from the list of potential choices the White House generated last fall.
During a 2016 presidential debate with his then-Democratic opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Trump told moderator Chris Wallace, a Fox News anchor, he “will be appointing pro-life judges” to the Supreme Court, noting one or two nominations will “automatically” result in overturning Roe v. Wade.
Following news of Kennedy’s decision, several pro-life advocates came out to encourage Trump to appoint a conservative pro-life successor to the high court.