NARAL Pro-Choice America on Wednesday voiced its opposition to President Obama’s nomination of Michael Boggs to serve on the U.S. District Court in Georgia because of his stance on abortion.
“Michael Boggs actually believes that there is one definition of what it means to live your life as an American. The thing is, that’s anti-American,” NARAL President Ilyse Hogue said in a statement. “We cannot risk having someone like that on the bench when we know we have so many cases coming down the pike that will define the very fabric of who we are as a nation and we are not only a nation that supports diversity, but we’re actually a pro-choice nation.”
According to NARAL, while in the Georgia legislature, Boggs worked to give state funds to anti-choice pregnancy centers. A group of activists in Georgia also oppose Boggs because he voted against marriage equality and abortion rights.
Boggs, who currently serves as judge on the Georgia appeals court, also supported keeping the Confederate symbol on the Georgia state flag as a legislator, for which he has met opposition by members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
NARAL started a petition to stop Boggs from being confirmed as a District Court judge.
“Michael Boggs showed us his true personal agenda as a state lawmaker. Judges hold an incredible responsibility when they take the bench,” the petition reads. “Americans need to trust them to take an objective view of the law and not use their position to advance their personal agenda. We can’t trust Michael Boggs.”
The news was first reported by Buzzfeed.
