Judge Brett Kavanaugh stated during his confirmation hearing for a position on the Supreme Court Wednesday that he believes that key court decisions on abortion are “settled law.”
Kavanaugh cited Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, decisions that legalized abortion nationwide up until fetal viability, generally understood as up to 24 weeks, and allowed states to regulate abortion but prohibited them from placing an “undue burden” on women who seek an abortion.
He would not say whether he believed that women had a right to abortion, stressing instead that Casey created a “precedent on precedent.”
“I will tell you what my view now is: It is an important precedent of the Supreme Court that has been reaffirmed many times,” Kavanaugh said.
Kavanaugh was answering questions from Sen. Diane Feinstein of California, who is the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. Abortion rights activists have sounded the alarm over Kavanaugh because President Trump vowed he would be “putting pro-life justices on the court.”
[Opinion: Dianne Feinstein admits Democratic opposition to Brett Kavanaugh is all about abortion]
Feinstein pressed Kavanaugh to explain what he meant when he had told senators during confirmation meetings that Roe was “settled law.”
“What do you mean by settled law? Do you believe that it is correct law? Is it settled precedent or could be overturned and have your views changed since you were in the Bush White House?” Feinstein asked.
Kavanaugh also said that he “understood the issue.”
“I understand your point of view and I understand how passionate and how deeply people feel about this issue,” Kavanaugh said. “I understand the importance of this issue … I don’t live in a bubble. I live in the real world. I understand the importance of the issue. “
