NOW Thanks Justice John Paul Stevens for 35 Years of Protecting Women's Rights

Statement of NOW President Terry O'Neill

April 9, 2010

The Supreme Court will lose an influential member, and women will lose a real champion when Justice John Paul Stevens retires at the end of this session. Leaders and members of the National Organization for Women will be sorry to see Justice Stevens go, and we thank him for standing up for our rights for the last 35 years.

Since 1975, Justice Stevens has played a critical role in a number of key Supreme Court decisions. Stevens was a consistent vote in upholding Roe v. Wade, and he has supported affirmative action, LGBT rights and other principles of social justice.

NOW wishes Justice Stevens well in his retirement, and will honor his many contributions at our national conference in Boston this July.

Finally, NOW is dedicated to achieving gender parity on the Supreme Court, and we call on President Obama to nominate a woman to fill this seat. The Supreme Court is out of balance, with women making up a mere 22 percent of the bench. That's simply not enough. Finding a qualified woman is the easy part -- the only question is, how long will it take for women to see themselves represented in equitable proportion on our nation's highest court?

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Latoya Veal w. 202-628-8669, ext. 116, c. 301-660-3447

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