After a rocky few weeks filled with testimonies, protests, and increased division, Brett Kavanaugh has officially been confirmed into the United States Supreme Court. This confirmation may seem like a shock given the recent sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh which was followed by a heated testimony on Wednesday, September 27th, exposing his unstable demeanor and lack of composure. However, this did not stop fifty senators from voting yes for Kavanaugh’s confirmation, against a close forty-eight no’s.
Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation into what was noted as a swing seat for the Supreme Court has now caused a shift to an unequal four Democrats and five Republicans on the court. Kavanaugh’s predecessor, Anthony M. Kennedy, was notable for not holding a specific political ideology regarding his votes on Supreme Court decisions, allowing a generally equal chance for either party to decide a case. With Kavanaugh identifying strictly as Republican, this will all change.
Regarding future Supreme Court decisions, it is clear that the majority of decisions will rule in favor of Republicans due to the unequal balance of ideologies within the court. Kavanaugh has also already expressed his opinions on past court decisions, specifically regarding the groundbreaking case Roe v. Wade. Kavanaugh stated that he believed Roe v. Wade set an “important precedent” regarding abortion rights for women, however he also thinks the government should be able to impose strict regulations and requirements on abortions, ultimately making them extremely difficult to access. Kavanaugh has also declared in a 2003 document that Roe v. Wade could always be overturned, indirectly expressing his disagreement with the precedent. If Roe v. Wade were to be repealed, abortion rights would be set on a state to state basis, allowing states to outright ban abortion completely if they wanted to.
This unsettling reality that women’s reproductive rights could be facing yet another series of barriers in the future has caused many women (and men) to take to the streets and protest Kavanaugh’s confirmation. A large topic of protest is in regards to Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, who voted yes for Kavanaugh’s appointment. Many are viewing Collins vote as a vote against women and an act of traitorship. Under these heated circumstances with respect to the Supreme Court, the stakes are high for the upcoming midterm elections.
If you are enraged by Kavanaugh’s confirmation and the Senate’s treatment of Dr. Ford’s testimony, the best thing you can do this November is vote. Call your senators and make your voice heard. Remind them that you have the power to vote them out and that their jobs depend on you. We have the opportunity to turn our country around.