Jewish Democrats Reject the Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett

WASHINGTON — The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) Executive Director Halie Soifer released the following statement on President Trump’s announcement of Judge Amy Coney Barrett as nominee for U.S. Supreme Court:

“Jewish Democrats reject President Trump’s nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett for two reasons. First, the American people will vote in 38 days on the next president of the United States, and – in accordance with the standards set by Republicans in 2016 – the winner of that election should pick the next Supreme Court justice. To deny the American people a say in this critically important period when some Americans have already voted is the height of hypocrisy and an unconscionable miscarriage of justice.

“Second, Amy Coney Barrett stands in opposition to everything the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought for throughout her career, and threatens to reverse decades of progress with regard to access to affordable healthcare, equality, separation of church and state, and reproductive rights. Barrett’s views on the law are far outside the mainstream of public opinion, and are contrary to the views of an overwhelming majority of Jewish Americans. With the Supreme Court set to hear a case on the Affordable Care Act on November 10, we are deeply concerned the rushed appointment of Barrett will directly threaten the healthcare of millions of Americans amid an unprecedented public health crisis.

“Slightly more than four-in-five Jewish voters cite the Supreme Court as one of the most important issues driving their vote in this election, according to a recent poll, and a majority of Jewish voters trust Joe Biden more than Donald Trump on every issue, including reproductive rights and racial justice. We know that the Supreme Court influenced the Jewish vote in 2018, when 79% of Jewish voters supported Democrats, and it will again in 2020, to the detriment of Donald Trump.”

To speak with Soifer or to learn more about JDCA please contact [email protected].