Dear Friends:

On Monday evening, President Trump announced his nomination of federal judge, Brett Kavanaugh, to serve as the next Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Senate hearings are expected to commence in late-August, with a confirmation vote in mid-September, so the new justice can be seated when the Court begins its next term in October.

Who is Judge Kavanaugh?

Judge Kavanaugh currently presides on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He was nominated to the federal bench in 2006 and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on a 57-36 vote. Prior to that, Judge Kavanaugh worked as a Law Clerk for Justice Anthony Kennedy and served as Associate Independent Counsel, Associate White House Counsel, and Assistant and Staff Secretary to President George W. Bush.

Judge Kavanaugh is very active in his community and church. He coaches Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) basketball, serves meals as part of Catholic Charities’ St. Maria’s meals program, serves as a reader in his church, and tutors children at local elementary schools. Judge Kavanaugh has been married to his wife, Ashley, since 2004, and together, they have two daughters.

How has Judge Kavanaugh previously ruled on the issues that matter to Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico?

 A preliminary review of Judge Kavanaugh’s rulings, opinions, and briefs reveal a strong commitment to applying the law as it is written and enforcing the structure and original text of the U.S. Constitution. He once stated, “The judge’s job is to interpret the law, not to make the law or make policy,” and with over 300 published opinions, Judge Kavanaugh has consistently upheld this originalist approach. Some notable cases of particular interest and importance are as follows:

Archdiocese of Washington v. WMATA. In his dissent from the court’s ruling, Judge Kavanaugh described the D.C. Metro’s ban on Christmas ads as “pure discrimination” and “odious” to the First Amendment.

Priests for Life v. HHS. In this case, Judge Kavanaugh voted to block the Obama Administration’s policy forcing entities to violate their conscience by providing abortifacient coverage to their employees. He stated that “when the government forces someone to take an action contrary to his or her sincere religious belief the government has substantially burdened the individual’s exercise of religion.

Newdon v. Roberts. In this case, Judge Kavanaugh upheld the Constitutionality of prayers at government ceremonies and the phrase “so help me God” in the Presidential Oath of Office.

 In summary, Judge Kavanaugh seems to be a man of great character with impressive credentials. There is certainly no question that he is qualified to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. At the same time, I am thankful for the confirmation process that will allow us to learn more about his judicial philosophy. As such, I encourage you all to take time to tune in to the confirmation hearings when they begin. We will share details as they become available.

In the meantime, please join me in praying for Judge Kavanaugh, his family, and the members of the U.S. Senate who will vote on his confirmation, including our New Mexico Senators, Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich; and for transparency and civility during the confirmation process.

Until next week, God bless you and thanks for your support!

Vince Torres

Vince Torres
President and Executive Director

The pick is in …  and the battle over Judge Brett Kavanaugh will begin!

Actually, it began a couple of weeks ago. The progressives’ howling started the moment Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement.

Why is that?

Because, any person nominated by President Trump won’t suffice for those on the Left.

Here’s why:

For decades now, liberal groups like the ACLU and Planned Parenthood, with the support of liberal legislators, recognized that they could not get the national laws they wanted by Constitutional means – that is, through the votes of legislators held accountable by their local electorate.

So instead, they created lawsuits and targeted legal venues and judges sympathetic to their cause. After all, turning a few judges – who are appointed for life and untouchable by voters – is a much easier way to advance a radical agenda. Liberal legislators appreciate this as they can advance the lie that the court has the final say and that they, therefore, are bound by the court.

This devious strategy has led to the Left’s Holy Grail of activist Supreme Court opinions: Roe v. Wade – which nationalized abortion on demand and has thus far led to the death of over 60 million unborn children – and Obergefell v. Hodges, which has undermined the dignity of marriage between one man and one woman and spawned additional court cases attacking the religious liberty of Christians.

These two pillars – and especially Roe – are why the left is unhinged today! It’s why you are hearing the media shout that another conservative judge on the court will surely lead to Roe being overturned. Yet, it’s not that simple.

Should Roe ultimately be overturned by the Court, it won’t be because of conservative judicial activism. That, too, is unconstitutional, and we shouldn’t stand for it. It won’t be because the culture is changing in favor of life, even though it is. It won’t be just because it was a bad opinion, though in fact it was a wrong opinion delivered by an activist court.

No, Roe will be overturned someday because men and women know we are a nation with a Constitution that should be followed. It will be because states pass good laws that rein in the hideous practice of abortion. It will be because a majority of sitting judges know their role – which is to interpret, not legislate. It will be because people like you – who affirm life from conception – elect leaders who best represent your values and are willing to vote for them rather than hide behind courts.

Judge Kavanaugh has the education, experience, temperament and record that qualifies him squarely for the role as a Supreme Court Justice. Most importantly, he has stated: “The judge’s job is to interpret the law, not to make the law or make policy. So, read the words of the statute as written. Read the text of the Constitution as written, mindful of history and tradition. Don’t make up new constitutional rights that are not in the text of the Constitution. Don’t shy away from enforcing constitutional rights that are in the text of the Constitution.” He rightly understands the limits the Constitution places on judges.

This is why Judge Kavanaugh – and all of the judges nominated by President Trump – lacks the one qualification liberals require for a Supreme Court Justice: a willingness to legislate from the bench. In other words – a willingness to do their job for them so they are not exposed to their own electorate.

Vulnerable liberal Senators up for election this November – such as Heidi Heitkamp from North Dakota, Joe Manchin from West Virginia, John Tester from Montana, Joe Donnelly from Indiana, and Claire McCaskill from Missouri – are very nervous today.  Why? Because they now have to vote up or down for Judge Kavanaugh – a judge they know won’t carry the water for them and a judge their electorate now supports.

That’s why elections matter. That’s why you and millions like you came out for Donald Trump in 2016!

That’s why Family Policy Alliance works tirelessly with our allies across the nation to elect Statesmen – men and women willing to stand for our shared values and do the job the Constitution requires, regardless of the personal consequences.

That’s why we are asking you to contact your two U.S. senators today and urge them to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.  It only takes seconds on our Action Center.

“Respecting the inherent dignity of persons from conception to natural death”: That’s just one way a draft policy by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) affirms a pro-life worldview.

The “HHS Strategic Plan, FY 2018-2022“contains multiple references to life beginning at conception. It recommends that department policy reflect that scientific fact.

During the Obama Administration, every new action by the White House seemed to decrease protections for preborn babies. And it sent billions of our tax dollars to organizations that promote or provide abortion – in the U.S. and overseas.

But the Trump Administration is weaving a culture of life back into the federal government.

“HHS accomplishes its mission,” the draft plan explains,” through programs and initiatives that cover a wide spectrum of 61 activities, serving and protecting Americans at every stage of life, beginning at conception.”

The HHS Strategic Plan sets the agency’s policy goals for the next four years. As well as affirming life, the Plan consistently acts to protect people of faith. It seeks to remove, “barriers for faith-based and other providers, in order to expand access to health care.”

The position for Secretary of HHS is currently vacant. It’s important to ensure that HHS continues to protect life through the selection of a someone who is firmly committed to pro-life values.

TAKE ACTION

Ask President Trump to nominate a defender of life to be Secretary of HHS. We’ve made it quick and easy to send a message through our Action Center.