Media

For Immediate Release:
January 31, 2006

Contact: Adrienne Verrilli 212-819-9770 x325

Alito's Confirmation to Replace Justice O'Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court Threatens Privacy Rights of All Americans

Statement by Joseph DiNorcia, Jr., President and CEO Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S.

New York , NY - The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS) expresses its profound disappointment in the U.S. Senate for voting to confirm Judge Samuel Alito to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court. Today's vote to elevate Judge Alito to the nation's highest court threatens the future of the constitutional right to privacy, as well as other individual freedoms the American people hold dear.

With a record so far outside of the mainstream, Judge Alito should have never been confirmed to a life-time appointment on the Supreme Court. Alito's confirmation disrupts the critical balance of the Supreme Court and puts at serious risk the future of sexual and reproductive health and rights, including access to comprehensive information and education about sexuality, family planning services, and safe, legal abortion. SIECUS applauds the 42 Senators who understood the gravity of this nomination and voted against confirmation.

Despite this severe setback, SIECUS will continue to fight against any future nominee to the Supreme Court who threatens the constitutional right to privacy, and will continue our work for the right of all people to have access to sexual and reproductive information, education, and services.

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