Washington D.C., Jul 12, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Feminists at a forum Monday said they would fight President George Bush’s nomination of a “strict constructionist” judge to the Supreme Court, claiming that such a judge could jeopardize access to abortion and contraception.
Jocelyn Frye, director of legal and public policy at the National Partnership for Women and Families, also claimed such a judge could jeopardize other legislation affecting women in the areas of affirmative action, protection from sex discrimination, family and medical leave, and quality health care.
Ms. Magazine hosted the July 11 forum at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. It took the opportunity to highlight a special report in its latest issue, entitled "What's at Stake for Us? The Looming Fight Over the Supreme Court."
Ellen Chesler, a senior fellow at billionaire George Soros's Open Society Institute, noted that Bush already said he intended to appoint strict constructionist judges like Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.