Pro-life advocates worldwide were dumbfounded by President Trump’s Supreme Court appointee Brett Kavanaugh siding with Planned Parenthood on December 10, 2018 by refusing to hear the case Trump apparently hoped would help him make good on his campaign promise to de-fund Planned Parenthood.
In a 6 to 3 decision, only Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch took the pro-life position. Chief Justice John Roberts joined Kavanaugh in siding with the 4 liberal justices.
President Trump might be more shocked than anyone seeing the way Kavanaugh ruled—or in this case, refused to rule, by not agreeing to hear the case. This is quite a loss for pro-lifers since only 4 justices are required to agree to pick up a case, not a majority of 5, so this one was lost by a single vote, Kavanaugh’s vote. Noteworthy is that at least Trump pick Neil Gorsuch took a stand against Planned Parenthood and abortion.
Justice Clarence Thomas responded in disgust to the shocking split decision asking, “So what explains the Court’s refusal to do its job here?” and in answered his own question snapping, “I suspect it has something to do with the fact that some respondents in these cases are named ‘Planned Parenthood’.”
Once again, Planned Parenthood has succeeded as positioning the organization is being one that provides more than just abortion services. Perhaps another case in the not-too-distant future will overturn Roe vs. Wade, by the Supreme Court ruling on a straight up abortion case. Time will tell.
