FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT:
Stephanie Cohen
scohen@ncjw.org

National Council of Jewish Women infuriated Senate confirms another anti-health care judge

 WASHINGTON – The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is deeply disappointed Senate for confirming Cory Wilson to a lifetime appointment on the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Jody Rabhan, NCJW Chief Policy Officer responded with the following:

“For the second time in a week, with a global pandemic still raging and calls for racial justice across the country, the Senate confirmed a judge to the federal bench who is openly hostile to both access to health care and current civil rights laws.

“Cory Wilson, now with a lifetime appointment to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, has stated that “[h]opefully the [Supreme] Court will overturn Obama” with regard to the Affordable Care Act. In a lengthy political musing, he called Roe v. Wade the “result of a liberal activist court.” In yet another, Wilson lauded Mississippi’s Voter ID law and expressed hope that the “Obama Justice Department will stop suing long enough for us to implement it.”

“As if these writings were not sufficiently disqualifying, Wilson’s legislative record reveals an extreme partisan agenda. As a state legislator, he voted for a severely restrictive “heartbeat bill” that would ban abortion as early as six weeks into pregnancy. He voted to defund Planned Parenthood and supports a myriad of other offensive, unconstitutional anti-abortion policies. And Wilson has demonstrated complete disdain for the LGBTQ community; he voted for a bill that would allow public and private businesses to legally refuse service to LGBTQ people based on the owner’s religious belief. In addition to his alarming views on civil liberties, Wilson voted to authorize concealed carry of firearms on any public property as well as carry of firearms in places of worship.

“Wilson’s dangerous record seems to satisfy a conservative agenda at the expense of helping real people. Lifetime seats on our nation’s judiciary must be reserved for open-minded, independent jurists free from bias and without an agenda. The National Council of Jewish Women will continue to work for independent, fair, qualified, and diverse judges committed to the constitutional guarantee of equal justice for all.”

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The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. More information on Facebook and on Twitter at @NCJW.