(Washington, D.C.) - For ten months, Senate Republicans have blocked consideration of Judge Merrick Garland, President Obama’s centrist pick, preferring to keep the seat vacant. Having set that precedent, the Senate should now take the time necessary to carefully vet far-right Judge Neil Gorsuch and not simply rubberstamp his selection.  

Judge Gorsuch’s record thus far raises serious questions about his willingness to use “religious freedom” as a far-reaching excuse to claw back critical civil and reproductive rights. In Burrell v. Hobby Lobby and Zubik v. Burwell, he prioritized the religious freedom of employers over the religious freedom of employees in order to deny women access to contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

Although Gorsuch has not outwardly taken a position on abortion, Donald Trump’s repeated campaign promise to use abortion as a litmus test and only pick Supreme Court members who will overturn Roe v. Wade makes Gorsuch a clear threat to legal and safe abortions.

The National Women’s Health Network strongly opposes the nomination of Judge Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.

The National Women’s Health Network is supported by our members and by choice, we do not accept financial support from drug companies or medical device manufacturers. We bring the voices, concerns and needs of women consumers to policy and regulatory tables.