Secretary of State Kris Kobach on Thursday night celebrated the retirement of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, predicting that the end of Roe v. Wade is near.
Addressing a packed room at the National Right to Life convention in Overland Park, Kobach predicted that President Donald Trump would appoint an “originalist” jurist to the court who would decide against Roe.
“I believe Donald Trump will go down in history as the president who has done the most for the pro-life movement,” Kobach said. “I really believe it.”
Kobach praised the list of 25 possible justices that Trump would choose from in nominating his next appointment.
“That list is filled with originalists who will interpret the Constitution as written,” Kobach said. “That’s good news for us because we’re not going to get a crazy surprise out of left field.”
Kobach appeared at the annual National Right to Life convention hours after his Republican gubernatorial rival, Gov. Jeff Colyer, spoke to a filled conference room earlier in the day.
Like Colyer, Kobach expressed concern about the pending case at the Kansas Supreme Court that could decide whether the right to abortion is enshrined in the state Constitution.
A decision in favor of abortion is likely to set off a debate over a constitutional amendment that would give the Legislature the authority to decide abortion issues.
A constitutional amendment requires support from two-thirds of the Legislature and must be ratified by Kansas voters.
“That’s going to mean a massive campaign, a massive get-out-the-vote effort,” Kobach said. “For those of you who are in Kansas, get your walking shoes on. For those of you outside of Kansas, please think of ways you can help us.
“We will have to fight yet another example of judicial activism in the state of Kansas.”
