The U.S. Senate on a 53-47 vote has confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to a seat on the Supreme Court.
While the Senate Judiciary Committee was hearing testimony on the nomination a couple of weeks ago, a familiar name turned up: Eleanor McCullen, sidewalk counselor and free speech advocate, victorious plaintiff in the McCullen v. Coakley case that overturned a Massachusetts buffer zone law. Her full statement to the Judiciary committee is now a matter of public record. Bottom line: any senator voting to confirm Jackson to the Court was voting to confirm someone known to be hostile to peaceful pro-life witnesses.
Here’s an excerpt.
I was deeply saddened to find out that Judge Jackson, while working in private practice, advocated in favor of Massachusetts’ previous ‘buffer zone’ law in her amicus brief on behalf of abortion clinics and abortion advocacy groups including NARAL. In her amicus brief, she and her colleagues maligned pro-life sidewalk counselors, characterizing us in ugly and false ways.
Her misrepresentations certainly don’t describe me or any of the sidewalk counselors that I have worked with over the years who provide support, love, and options to women. Indeed, the entire reason I challenged the ‘buffer zone’ law was because I did not want to shout from a distance or come across as insensitive or compassionless to the women and families I served with love.
Thankfully, in 2014, after years of litigation, all nine Justices of the Supreme Court agreed that Massachusetts’s ‘buffer zone’ violated the First Amendment.
…I’m thankful the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in my case. When a woman is alone, sidewalk counselors walk with her in that moment. When a child is just minutes from losing his or her life, sidewalk counselors serve as their voice.
…I would ask Judge Jackson that if she is confirmed to the Supreme Court of the United States she will choose to uphold all Americans’ First Amendment freedoms.
In conclusion, you might wonder why I am so passionate about supporting mothers and free speech. Well, it’s called love. And love . . . you can’t argue with that.
Statement of Eleanor McCullen
Hearing on the Nomination of the Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
March 24, 2022
To no one’s surprise, New Hampshire’s Senators Shaheen and Hassan voted to confirm now-Justice Jackson.
Leaven for the Loaf 