January 22, 2026 | The rule of law at the state level is the essential defense against the erosion of civil protections, unlawful paramilitary tactics, and escalating attacks on bodily autonomy targeting women, minorities, LGBTQ+ people, and immigrant communities, said The Womxn Project today. In recent years, the organization, in coalition with partners, helped secure the right to choose in Rhode Island law so that abortion access would be protected even after the fall of Roe v. Wade.
This year, The Womxn Project will support legislation to codify core protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act into Rhode Island law, ensuring that ongoing federal rollbacks do not weaken voting rights for any class of Rhode Islanders. State-level voting rights protections create a critical legal basis to resist efforts to curtail participation, especially in communities of color and other historically disenfranchised groups.
While these state protections are vital, they are only as strong as the judges who interpret and enforce them. Without a judiciary firmly committed to equality and dignity for every Rhode Islander, as well as the separation of the three main branches of government, even well-crafted protections can fail when tested in court.
Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee has undermined that commitment by nominating former Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey to the Rhode Island District Court, a powerful lifetime appointment. McCaffrey has a decades-long record of opposing abortion rights and every major LGBTQ+ equality measure during his legislative career.
In public reporting and constituent testimony, advocates have documented that McCaffrey consistently voted against reproductive healthcare access, including abortion, and against marriage equality and other LGBTQ+ protections. During his judicial interview, he claimed his views had “evolved” and referenced knowing people in the LGBTQ+ community, but he declined to clearly affirm support for bodily autonomy and equal rights under the law.
The Womxn Project notes that this pattern reflects the skills of a seasoned politician and attorney who carefully avoids any binding commitment to protect bodily freedom, even as attacks escalate nationwide. Elevating such a record to the bench sends a chilling message to Rhode Islanders whose rights have historically depended on courageous courts.
There is still time for the Rhode Island Senate to demonstrate that the state’s promises of equality and justice are real and enforceable. Senators should vote no on Michael McCaffrey’s nomination to the District Court and confirm a judge whose record and answers clearly reflect a commitment to reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ equality, and voting rights for all Rhode Islanders.
The Womxn Project urges residents to contact their senators immediately, oppose McCaffrey’s confirmation, and demand a judiciary that treats every Rhode Islander as equal under the law.
