Maine Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins says Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh told her Tuesday that Roe v. Wade is "settled law." Collins met with Kavanaugh for about two hours. She told reporters they discussed a range of topics, including his thoughts on executive power and the 1973 Supreme Court decision that established a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy.
“He said that he agreed with what Justice Roberts said at his nomination hearing, in which he said it was settled law," Collins said.
Recent Supreme Court nominees have used some version of the term "settled law" when asked how they'd view a challenge to Roe, but the practical meaning of that response is unclear because judges also vote to overrturn settled cases.
Some legal experts noted on social media that Kavanaugh's comments shed little light on how he'll vote on an abortion case.
Others saw Collins' remarks as a sign that she's likely to support Kavanaugh.
Collins, considered a key swing vote in the Senate, says she'll wait until Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing before deciding.
