Latinos for a Fair Judiciary responds to President’s Supreme Court Nominee
For Immediate Release: September 26, 2020
Contact:
Chris Lechuga
915-274-2407
clechuga@rabengroup.com
Latinos for a Fair Judiciary responds to President’s Supreme Court Nominee
Washington, DC- Today, President Donald Trump took another dangerous step in superseding the will of the American people with his nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States. Even before naming his nomination, Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled that the nominee would be a person who shared their goals of undermining access to healthcare and abortion, immigrant rights, LGBTQ equality, and civil and human rights, all of which are important issues that greatly impact the Latino community. We know what’s at stake with this nomination—the checks and balances critical to our democracy and equal justice for everyone.
In response, members of Latinos for a Fair Judiciary have weighed in on Barrett’s record and the unprecedented and illegitimate confirmation process that lies ahead.
"So much is at stake for Latinas with this nomination to the Supreme Court. Our health, livelihoods, and well-being are all on the line,” said Mónica Ramírez, Founder and President of Justice for Migrant Women. “This nominee's track record shows she is hostile to women's access to reproductive health services, has consistently put big corporate interests ahead of workers, and supports the Trump administration's anti-immigrant agenda. This rushed nomination process is a power grab to deny us equal justice and we must mobilize to stop it."
Ediberto Roman, Professor of Law at Florida International University said, "Today's announcement of the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett may mark the day of a radical shift in the Supreme Court away from equal rights and equal treatment under the law. If confirmed, the Supreme Court's new majority would likely remove Latinos' access to affordable healthcare -- in the midst of a pandemic -- and erode legal protections for Latino workers, Latinas' access to reproductive healthcare, and due process rights for immigrants."
“Voting for our next President has already begun with the American people casting their ballot in several states. Under no circumstances should the Senate consider any replacement for Justice Ginsburg until after the inauguration,” said José Pérez, Deputy General Counsel at LatinoJustice PRLDEF. “Amy Coney Barrett was nominated by the Trump administration because she has consistently put the interests of big business ahead of workers, ruled in favor of Trump’s public charge rule, an anti-immigrant wealth test, is hostile to the affordable care act, women’s access to reproductive health services, LGBTQ and racial equality. The Latino community needs a justice who won’t pick and choose whose rights to defend, but one who will work to protect equal justice for all. Latino’s health, livelihoods, right to vote and well-being are all on the line with this nomination”
María Blanco, Executive Director of the University of California Immigrant Legal Services Center, said, "Many issues of utmost importance for Latinos will be in front of the Supreme Court in the near future and in years to come. Issues of health and immigration policy as well as basic civil rights. The rush to appoint a judge while voting is already underway is undemocratic and an abuse of power."
More information about LFJ and its initiatives can be found at www.latinosforafairjudiciary.org.
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Latinos for a Fair Judiciary (LFJ) provides Latino leaders across the nation a platform and voice in matters related to our nation’s judicial system. LFJ is an unaffiliated, non-partisan, independent network of elected officials, legal, civil rights, labor, academic and political leaders who care deeply about the impact that the Supreme Court has on the Latino community. Our mission is to raise public awareness around the pressing legal issues Latinos are facing and call attention to the significance of the Supreme Court.