October 8, 2020 — The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett next week. We have grave concerns about Judge Barrett’s nomination based upon her extreme views on areas of the law on which sexual assault survivors depend. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic is worsening dramatically as hospitalizations in Wisconsin are reaching record levels. Despite this, the Senate still has not taken up the updated COVID stimulus passed by the House of Representatives last week. Instead of rushing through a Supreme Court nominee who holds such extreme views, the Senate should focus on passing legislation that will provide much needed relief for sexual assault survivors and working families.
Please contact Senators Johnson and Baldwin with the following message:
- We have grave concerns about Judge Barrett’s nomination due to her extreme views on areas of the law on which sexual assault survivors depend.
- In a ruling on Title IX, Judge Barrett made it easier for students who are being held accountable for sexual assault to sue their schools for sex discrimination. Her opinion suggested a school’s commitment to taking sexual misconduct seriously is evidence of sex discrimination against the people who cause harm is deeply concerning. This sends a terrible message to sexual assault survivors, whose needs have long been ignored by educational institutions.
- Judge Barrett’s record also indicates a willingness to change longstanding precedent that she does not agree with, including Roe v. Wade. This is very concerning as survivors need access to the full range of reproductive health care, including abortion services.
- We urge you to delay action on the Supreme Court until after the inauguration. Instead of rushing through a Supreme Court nominee who holds such extreme views, the Senate should focus on passing a COVID-19 stimulus bill that provides much needed relief for sexual assault survivors and working families.
Thank you,
Ian Henderson
Director of Legal and Systems Services
Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA)