In expressing his disappointment over the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-3 decision on Monday that struck down Texas' controversial abortion law, evangelist Franklin Graham also challenged Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to release her list of potential Supreme Court picks.
Graham, who said in a Facebook post that he was not surprised about the abortion decision, blamed it on a dearth of conservative judges and warned that the next president will have a great deal of power to shape the court.
"This is another example of how critical the positions of Supreme Court Justices are to our country," he wrote. "Remember, the next president we elect will appoint one justice immediately, and then be able to possibly appoint up to five more during his or her term."
Expressing how deeply worried he is about the future of the Supreme Court, he noted that these appointments will have a profound impact on the "future of this country," and called for judges who look to God when making decisions.
Then, Graham offered up his challenge to Clinton.
"The Republican presumptive nominee Donald J. Trump has already released a list of those he would choose from so that America can carefully review that and see where they stand on important issues," he wrote. "But we havent seen a list from the Democratic presumptive nominee."
Graham continued, "Secretary Hillary Clinton wheres your list?"
While Trump released a list of 11 names back in May whom he would consider as a potential replacement for the late Justice Antonin Scalia, Clinton has not done the same, though her campaign did release a blistering reaction to Trump's Supreme Court crop.
Much like Graham's warning, the Clinton camp cautioned its supporters that the next commander-in-chief will likely play a pivotal role in shaping the court's ideological composition.
"With three current justices nearing or older than 80 years past the courts average retirement age the next president will likely have the opportunity to nominate several justices to the Supreme Court," read a post on HillaryClinton.com. "And in doing so, she or he could have the power to transform the court, and American law, for generations to come."
There are no definitive determinations surrounding which topics and cases the Supreme Court will hear in 2017, but people on both sides of the aisle are watching closely, as the next president will, indeed, hold sway.
The Clinton campaign also offered up a list of "what's at stake" if Trump is elected president, warning that abortion rights, voting rights, the legalization of gay marriage and the Affordable Care Act could come under fire if Trump appoints conservative justices.
There is also the ongoing religious liberty issue that will potentially reach the high court at some point in the near future. Consider the case against Oregon baker Melissa Klein who was forced to pay more than $136,000 for refusing to make a cake for a gay wedding. An appeal in that case is currently in process.
Additional battles involving printers and business owners who claim that providing services to same-sex weddings would violate their religious consciences are also ongoing and are working their way through the lower courts.
Graham, who said in a Facebook post that he was not surprised about the abortion decision, blamed it on a dearth of conservative judges and warned that the next president will have a great deal of power to shape the court.
"This is another example of how critical the positions of Supreme Court Justices are to our country," he wrote. "Remember, the next president we elect will appoint one justice immediately, and then be able to possibly appoint up to five more during his or her term."
Expressing how deeply worried he is about the future of the Supreme Court, he noted that these appointments will have a profound impact on the "future of this country," and called for judges who look to God when making decisions.
Then, Graham offered up his challenge to Clinton.
"The Republican presumptive nominee Donald J. Trump has already released a list of those he would choose from so that America can carefully review that and see where they stand on important issues," he wrote. "But we havent seen a list from the Democratic presumptive nominee."
Graham continued, "Secretary Hillary Clinton wheres your list?"
While Trump released a list of 11 names back in May whom he would consider as a potential replacement for the late Justice Antonin Scalia, Clinton has not done the same, though her campaign did release a blistering reaction to Trump's Supreme Court crop.
Much like Graham's warning, the Clinton camp cautioned its supporters that the next commander-in-chief will likely play a pivotal role in shaping the court's ideological composition.
"With three current justices nearing or older than 80 years past the courts average retirement age the next president will likely have the opportunity to nominate several justices to the Supreme Court," read a post on HillaryClinton.com. "And in doing so, she or he could have the power to transform the court, and American law, for generations to come."
There are no definitive determinations surrounding which topics and cases the Supreme Court will hear in 2017, but people on both sides of the aisle are watching closely, as the next president will, indeed, hold sway.
The Clinton campaign also offered up a list of "what's at stake" if Trump is elected president, warning that abortion rights, voting rights, the legalization of gay marriage and the Affordable Care Act could come under fire if Trump appoints conservative justices.
There is also the ongoing religious liberty issue that will potentially reach the high court at some point in the near future. Consider the case against Oregon baker Melissa Klein who was forced to pay more than $136,000 for refusing to make a cake for a gay wedding. An appeal in that case is currently in process.
Additional battles involving printers and business owners who claim that providing services to same-sex weddings would violate their religious consciences are also ongoing and are working their way through the lower courts.