NWHN Statement on Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s Resignation
The following statement can be attributed to Cynthia A. Pearson, Executive Director of the National Women’s Health Network.
Washington, D.C. — On Wednesday, June 27th, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his resignation thereby paving the way for the Trump-Pence Administration to solidify a conservative legacy on the Supreme Court. Make no mistake, Anthony Kennedy was mostly conservative. However, he cast a number of swing votes that swayed landmark cases in a progressive direction. Trump will now appoint a consistently conservative Supreme Court Justice. This puts reproductive rights, health care rights, immigrant rights and the rights of the LGBTQ community at risk. This will embolden challenges to rights and freedoms we thought had been previously settled and established, including the right to abortion.
Trump promised throughout his 2016 campaign that he would ONLY put anti-abortion judges on the bench who will overturn Roe v. Wade. He did exactly that with Justice Neil Gorsuch and we absolutely cannot allow that to happen again.
The NWHN will do what we have always done throughout our 42-year history. We will advocate for women when they need it most and continue to provide access to information that is rooted in science. It is only when people have access to information that they are able to make the best healthcare choices for themselves. We need a Supreme Court Justice who values science and evidence. Access to abortion is this country is on the line. We won't back down, and we will be a voice for women in this battle.
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.
Cindy Pearson was the NWHN’s Executive Director from 1996 to 2021. One of the nation's leading advocates for women's health, Cindy often testified before Congress, NIH and the FDA and was frequently featured in the news as a consumer expert on women’s health issues. When she retired, Cindy received a Congressional Resolution in honor of her outstanding contributions to the health of women and girls.