A colleague who was invited to the White House announcement of the nomination of Sotomayor to the Supreme Court today asked me to fill in for her on a radio interview about common ground. Here's a link to the broadcast. It's not very often that I, or anyone for that matter, have the opportunity to discuss this subject with a pro-lifer who is reasonable and looking for solutions. David Gushee, who was also on the show, is such a person. Listening to him gives me faith in this new and albeit small movement of pro-lifers who genuinely want to support policies that help reduce the need for abortion. We, as a nation, have much to gain from creating a more civilized and productive dialogue about abortion. But, as I hope you agree after listening to the interview, women are poised to be the greatest beneficiaries of the common ground effort.

On a related note, I noticed in Sonia Sotomayor's bio that she served on the board of Childbirth Connection (formerly known as Maternity Centers Association.) I called them today to find out more about the organization and what it possibly says about our new Supreme Court nominee. Childbirth Connection takes no policy position on abortion but it is very much a proponent of women's rights during childbirth.

Carol Sakala, their program director, explained to me what she thought Sotomayor's affiliation with the organization may say about her as a person. Sakala said,

"Today, in her acceptance statement, Sotomayor showed she is very much indebted to the people who have supported her and she showed a good deal of gratitude. Being raised by a single mother, she knows what it takes to support a family under challenging circumstances, to be in it for the long haul and the importance of having warm family connections and relations. Our organization is all about the foundation of those families and relationships; giving women the opportunity to make good decisions and build healthy relationships. People need to be informed, need to have the time to be able to make informed decisions, need to be respected and have options to make the best decisions for them and their families. The abiding theme of our organization is high quality maternity care for all woman and their families—it's family centered maternity care that serves the needs and best interest and their family."

Her interest in this organization, albeit several decades ago, stands out on Sotomayor's resume. It really is the only entry that does not have a purely legal focus. Considering Sotomayor is not a mother herself, it makes it all the more interesting of volunteer activities. To me, it's an important sign and one from which pro-choice and women's health advocates can derive some comfort. Childbirth Connection is an organization dedicated to identifying and promoting best practices in women's health based on rigorous scientific evidence. If Sotomayor's connection to the group is any indication of the value she places in science and her respect for the field of medicine, her nomination is good news for women's health.