US pro-choice groups prepare for fight over Supreme Court nominee
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《英国医生杂志》
US organisations supporting women's right to have an abortion are gearing up for a battle over the nomination of a conservative, anti-abortion candidate for a vacancy on the nine member Supreme Court. A change of only one justice on the court could end legal abortions in the United States.
President Bush will almost certainly be able to appoint one, two, three, or even four new justices to the court. He has often said that he opposes all forms of abortion.
The president nominates candidates for the court. Each nominee is examined by the Senate's judiciary committee in public hearings. If approved, he or she is then voted on by the Senate. Justices serve until they die or retire.
The current court is considered unlikely to review the three appeals of the law banning "partial birth abortion" that are making their way through the appellate courts. However, a changed court might decide to accept an appeal and overturn the case known as Roe versus Wade, which made abortion legal.
Chief Justice William Rehnquist has always opposed abortion
Credit: AP PHOTO/J SCOTT APPLEWHITE
In 1973 the Supreme Court held 7-2 in that case that the constitutional right to privacy included the right to choose an abortion. Since then six of the seven justices who voted in favour of choice have retired. The current court has chipped away at the decision and is now only 5-4 in favour of a woman's right to choose.
Chief Justice William Rehnquist, 80, had surgery for thyroid cancer in late October and has been working on court business at home. He is one of eight justices over 65 and has always been opposed to abortion. Three of the four oldest members of the court are part of the majority of five in favour of abortion rights.
The Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Republican Majority for Choice, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the National Abortion Federation (healthcare providers who perform abortions), and many other organisations are preparing to fight the nomination of an anti-abortion justice.
"We are working in a coalition with pro-choice organisations, civil rights and human rights organisations, and labour and environmental groups," said Vicki Saporta, president of the National Abortion Federation.
Planning to fight an anti-abortion nominee is the "top priority," said Kellie Rose Ferguson, executive director of Republican Majority for Choice.(Janice Hopkins Tanne)
President Bush will almost certainly be able to appoint one, two, three, or even four new justices to the court. He has often said that he opposes all forms of abortion.
The president nominates candidates for the court. Each nominee is examined by the Senate's judiciary committee in public hearings. If approved, he or she is then voted on by the Senate. Justices serve until they die or retire.
The current court is considered unlikely to review the three appeals of the law banning "partial birth abortion" that are making their way through the appellate courts. However, a changed court might decide to accept an appeal and overturn the case known as Roe versus Wade, which made abortion legal.
Chief Justice William Rehnquist has always opposed abortion
Credit: AP PHOTO/J SCOTT APPLEWHITE
In 1973 the Supreme Court held 7-2 in that case that the constitutional right to privacy included the right to choose an abortion. Since then six of the seven justices who voted in favour of choice have retired. The current court has chipped away at the decision and is now only 5-4 in favour of a woman's right to choose.
Chief Justice William Rehnquist, 80, had surgery for thyroid cancer in late October and has been working on court business at home. He is one of eight justices over 65 and has always been opposed to abortion. Three of the four oldest members of the court are part of the majority of five in favour of abortion rights.
The Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Republican Majority for Choice, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the National Abortion Federation (healthcare providers who perform abortions), and many other organisations are preparing to fight the nomination of an anti-abortion justice.
"We are working in a coalition with pro-choice organisations, civil rights and human rights organisations, and labour and environmental groups," said Vicki Saporta, president of the National Abortion Federation.
Planning to fight an anti-abortion nominee is the "top priority," said Kellie Rose Ferguson, executive director of Republican Majority for Choice.(Janice Hopkins Tanne)