Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced plans to retire June 27, leaving a vacancy on the bench for President Donald Trump to fill.
This will mark President Trump's second Supreme Court nominee since he came into office and a social conservative pick would sway the bench toward the right. This has sparked concern among several healthcare-focused advocacy groups, including Protect Our Care, a coalition aimed at preserving and improving the ACA.
Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse released the following statement in reaction to Justice Kennedy's retirement:
"Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans have voted to repeal health care protections and gone to court to overturn them, but they must be stopped from shoving another radical right-wing justice onto the Supreme Court who will join in their crusade against our care. The Trump Administration is explicitly asking the court to overturn protections for the 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, and now it is every Senator's responsibility to stand against any appointee who would vote to strip away these critical health protections for hundreds of millions of Americans."
Abortion rights groups have also expressed concern since one of President Trump's campaign promises was to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that legalized abortion in the U.S. Planned Parenthood Executive Vice President Dawn Laguens issued the following statement to The Hill:
"The significance of today's news cannot be overstated: The right to access abortion in this country is on the line. With this vacancy, Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell hold the balance of the court in their hands — and with it, the legal right to access abortion in this country. President Trump has promised to only appoint justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade. The idea of Trump having his choice to fill another vacancy is terrifying for not only abortion rights, but for our ability to live free from discrimination in this country."