Lambda Legal Says Justice Alito Likely Will Tip High Court to the Right but Vows Progress

(New York, January 31, 2006) — Lambda Legal Executive Director Kevin Cathcart on the confirmation of the nomination of Judge Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court:

“Lambda Legal voiced very serious concerns about the track record of now — Justice Samuel Alito and therefore opposed his nomination.

“With this confirmation, the Supreme Court likely will shift to the right and become a less welcoming forum for many kinds of civil rights claims. However, it is important for us to remember that the court still contains a majority of justices who ruled in favor of liberty and equality for gay people in Lambda Legal’s two recent Supreme Court successes that are the foundation for much of our community’s progress — Lawrence v. Texas and Romer v. Evans — and those cases remain the law of the land. In Lambda Legal’s more than 30 years litigating on behalf of the LGBT and HIV communities, we repeatedly have demonstrated our capacity to win even before conservative courts. We also have seen much progress in state courts on numerous fronts, including parenting and relationship rights cases. Though there is much to be concerned about, our Supreme Court victories remain good law and we will continue to win in state and federal courts on behalf of the LGBT community and people with HIV.

“The confirmation of Justice Alito is being much celebrated by those who oppose equality and fairness for all Americans. But at Lambda Legal we firmly believe that time is on the side of continued legal progress for LBGT people. This is a movement for equality and there are bound to be ups and downs. Nonetheless, we know how to move forward steadily and surely, and we will continue to do so.”