President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh said during a speech last fall that former Chief Justice William Rehnquist made the right choice to dissent in the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade, praising the justice's rejection of the separation of church and state.

In a speech praising Rehnquist first reported by the Los Angeles Times, Kavanaugh reportedly lauded the former chief justice's dismissal of "a wall of separation between church and state," and called Rehnquist his "first judicial hero."

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Kavanaugh particularly praised Rehnquist's argument that a new, "unenumerated" right not defined by the Bill of Rights should be "rooted into the traditions and conscience of our people," adding that Rehnquist could not reach that conclusion when it came to abortion.

“It is fair to say that Justice Rehnquist was not successful in convincing a majority of justices in the context of abortion, either in Roe itself or in later cases such as Casey [v. Planned Parenthood],” Kavanaugh said, according to the Times. “But he was successful in stemming the general tide of freewheeling judicial creation of unenumerated rights that were not rooted in the nation’s history and tradition.”

The reported remarks are Kavanaugh's most notable yet seemingly in favor of overturning the landmark 1973 case that made abortion legal nationwide. President Trump pledged during the campaign to fight to overturn Roe v. Wade through the appointment of conservative Supreme Court justices.

Democrats have made Kavanaugh's stance on the issue central to their opposition to his nomination. At least one Republican, Sen. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsClub for Growth to spend million in ads for Trump Supreme Court nominee Maryland's GOP governor says Republicans shouldn't rush SCOTUS vote before election The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November MORE (Maine), has vowed to join them and vote against any nominee seen as likely to vote to overturn the ruling.

"This nominee will repeal Roe and women’s reproductive freedom and repeal ACA far against what the American people want,” Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Senate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' MORE (D-N.Y.) said on Tuesday. “I will oppose him with everything I’ve got.”