Contrary to Collins’ assurances, Kavanaugh votes to restrict abortion rights

In a five-to-four decision, the U.S. Supreme Court announced tonight that it has blocked an attempt by the state of Louisiana to radically restrict access to abortion, with Chief Justice John Roberts joining the more liberal justices in the majority opinion. Recently-confirmed Justice Brett Kavanaugh dissented and argued that the law, which placed medically-unnecessary restrictions on doctors who perform abortions, should be allowed to go into effect.

Kavanaugh’s stance on the case contradicts the Supreme Court’s five-to-three decision in 2016 striking down a similar Texas law in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt and would seem to fly in the face of assurances made by Senator Susan Collins, who cast a crucial vote for his confirmation, that Kavanaugh would respect previous precedent and not seek to erode abortion rights.

“To my knowledge, Judge Kavanaugh is the first Supreme Court nominee to express the view that precedent is not merely a practice and tradition, but rooted in Article III of our Constitution itself. He believes that precedent ‘is not just a judicial policy … it is constitutionally dictated to pay attention and pay heed to rules of precedent.’ In other words, precedent isn’t a goal or an aspiration; it is a constitutional tenet that has to be followed except in the most extraordinary circumstances,” said Collins in a speech from the Senate floor.

At the time, legal and health care experts repeatedly warned Collins that these claims were legally meaningless and that Kavanaugh’s past actions showed he would likely vote to restrict reproductive rights.

National political commentators and many of Collins’ constituents were quick to react to the decision on social media on Thursday evening, often mocking Collins’ past claims.

As I wrote last August, all you had to do was to see what Kavanaugh was saying in public to know where'd he be on abortion. Susan Collins was either delusional or disingenuous in thinking otherwise. https://t.co/fCxRAYTd2K — Jeff Greenfield (@greenfield64) February 8, 2019

.@SenatorCollins was *certain* Kavanaugh would respect precedent on Roe. He’s already trying to rip it to shreds. #mepolitics https://t.co/h70UFVQcC3 — Paul Jessen (@pj_maine) February 8, 2019

Susan Collins voted to confirm Kavanaugh on the ridiculous claim that he'd uphold Roe. Collins is up for reelection next year. That is all. https://t.co/AR4Hkp33jH — Ezra Levin (@ezralevin) February 8, 2019

Kavanaugh just declared war on Roe so it’s a good time to remind everyone @SenatorCollins was generously compensated for her Kavanaugh confirmation vote. #MESen #mepolitics https://t.co/GYVyE5fGNO — Jenn Loving (@jennlovingdc) February 8, 2019

Kavanaugh voted to restrict women’s right to reproductive healthcare today. We told @SenatorCollins he would, and he did. We will defeat her in 2020. #mepolitics https://t.co/dh13A87t6z — Susie Crimmins (@scrimmins53) February 8, 2019

(Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images)