Supreme Court vacancy puts Murkowski in the middle, again
Murkowski is only one of 100 senators, but she holds the rare position of a moderate Republican, a vote the president needs to appoint his justice before the midterm elections in November. Murkowski is known for her support for abortion rights and gay marriage -- positions usually out of step with Republican orthodoxy and what many conservatives want to see out of Trump's court pick.
Republican leaders hope to move through the confirmation process quickly and seat a new justice on the bench before the start of the October term, and before November elections could swing the composition of the
In a statement after Kennedy announced his retirement, Murkowski said her "standards for
On Thursday, Trump brought Murkowski and five other senators to the
Trump spent Wednesday night in
The meeting also included Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley Iowa and
Collins and Murkowski are often paired in headlines: They are the
Murkowski told several news outlets Thursday that upholding Roe v. Wade -- the 1973 decision legalizing abortion nationally -- is at the forefront of her mind in her decision about a
Murkowski's judicial picks have not hinged on abortion rights issues in the past. Last year she voted in favor of Trump's
Until Trump makes a selection -- and perhaps after -- it is not certain that the nominee's feelings on overturning abortion precedent will be clear. It is typical for judicial nominees to avoid stating any outright preferences for specific rulings on possible future cases.
Trump told
At a
During a series of health care votes in July last year, Trump sent Interior Secretary
Murkowski has appeared increasingly comfortable in recent months with her position as a Republican who often comes into conflict with the president and her party. That aligns with her willingness in recent years to counter her party on abortion issues.
In 2012, Murkowski voted in favor of an amendment by Sen.
"Well I think as most folks know right now access to safe and legal abortion is on the line with the retirement of
"We know that
"
Cler said that her organization will be urging supporters to contact Murkowski to urge her to vote against a Trump nominee that might swing the court to the right.
Asked about Murkowski's vote to confirm Gorsuch in 2017, Cler said she hopes that Murkowski will take a different approach, "given the stakes of what we're facing and the fact that we're facing the reality that the
For that, "
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