Rep. Louise Slaughter, a New York Democrat and co-chair of the House Pro-Choice Caucus, on Tuesday warned that the next Supreme Court justice must be "unwavering" in support of abortion rights. Citing a memo written by Elena Kagan as a Clinton White House adviser in which she recommended that the president support a bill banning late-term abortions, Slaughter called her record on reproductive rights "troubling" and asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to press her on the subject.

In the absence of a judicial paper trail, conservatives and liberals alike have sought clues as to how Kagan might rule on the bench. Slaughter's letter -- addressed to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. -- is perhaps the most public expression of the left's anxieties about President Obama's choice to emerge so far.

Complete text of Slaughter's letter after the jump.

May 18, 2010

Dear Chairman Leahy,

I want to express my sincere appreciation for your continued commitment to ensuring that the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court will hold the Constitution to the highest standard. It is with tremendous pride that I write to you regarding President Obama's nomination of a woman, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Solicitor General Kagan is the second distinguished woman to be considered for the highest court within the past year. This historic achievement is a testament to the progress women have made in recent years. In order for the Supreme Court to be truly representative of the citizens of the United States, we must increase the number of women on the highest court.

As we do not have a judicial record to review for Solicitor General Kagan, it is imperative that the Senate Judiciary Committee fully question the nominee with respect to women's rights. The emergence of a memorandum co-authored by Solicitor General Kagan during her time as a White House aide in the Clinton Administration regarding abortion is troubling. As Co Chair of the Pro Choice Caucus, I urge you and the Committee to keep the constitutional right to choose at the forefront of your minds as you question Solicitor General Kagan.

Following the contentious debate regarding federal funding for abortion leading up to the historic passage of health care reform, it is essential that the constitutionality of a woman's right to choose remain clear, unwavering and longstanding. The recent passage of several state laws designed to undermine the strength of Roe v. Wade further signifies the intense nature of these issues. As these laws are being brought to the courts, it is critical that we have a full understanding of Solicitor General Kagan's interpretation of the constitutional right to choose. The next Supreme Court Justice must be unwavering in their support of judicial precedent with respect to women's rights.

In light of Solicitor General Elena Kagan's nomination, I respectfully request that the Committee on the Judiciary work to ensure that the next Supreme Court Justice will uphold the constitutional right for women to choose what to do with their bodies. I appreciate your attention to this request.

Sincerely,

Louise M. Slaughter

Member of Congress