Attorney Andy Schlafly, son of the late conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, is raising concerns over President-elect Donald Trump’s list of judges for the United States Supreme Court, derived from the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society, to fill Justice Antonin Scalia’s seat, which has remained vacant since his death in February.
“There are many people on the list that was given to Trump who would not overturn Roe v. Wade,” Schlafly stated last Friday. “It’s known. It’s obvious, just a little bit of research proves it.”
Schlafly argues that the records of the proposed judges must be examined in order to tell whether one is sincerely pro-life or not and that Scalia’s seat must be filled by a truly pro-life individual.
“The media is pushing candidates who are not really pro-life,” Schlafly alleges, adding that he believes Trump’s advisers could also urge him to push someone who isn’t sincerely pro-life.
Trump has said he planned to appoint pro-life judges to the Supreme Court.
“I am putting pro-life justices on the court. I will say this: It [the abortion issue] will go back to the states, and the states will then make a determination,” Trump said during the final debate in reference to a question about overturning Roe v. Wade.
Schlafly says that before nominating someone to the high court, one question should be answered: “Does the candidate have a pro-life record?”
“If not, the candidate is unacceptable and in violation of Trump’s pledge,” Schlafly argues. “If such a nomination is made, then outrage by the grassroots will compel it to be withdrawn, and those who betrayed the pro-life movement will be thoroughly discredited.”
In a letter currently being drafted to the President-elect, co-signed by 13 additional pro-life groups and individuals thus far, Schlafly lists six judges that he alleges do not have pro-life records.
According to Schlafly, those six judges include: “Judges Diane Sykes, Steven Colloton, Raymond Kethledge, and Neil Gorsuch, and Justices Allison Eid and Joan Larsen.”
“In addition, each of these judges has either ruled against the pro-life position or has otherwise shown an unwillingness to be publicly pro-life,” Schlafly alleges. “That disqualifies them from filling Justice Scalia’s seat, particularly in light of how better candidates are available to be nominated.”