October 21, 2020 — The Senate is scheduled to take a vote on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court 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. In a 2018 ruling, Judge Barrett’s court reversed a jury award to a woman who was raped by a guard in the Milwaukee County Jail. According to the opinion, the county could not be liable because the guard was not acting in his official duties when he assaulted the survivor. This decision sets a terrible precedent that negatively impacts survivors.
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 also participated in a decision reversing a jury award to a 19 year old woman who was repeatedly raped by a guard at the Milwaukee County Jail. The decision sets a terrible precedent and completely disregards the inherent power disparity in these cases.
- 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 vote no on Judge Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court. 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)