Augusta, Maine – In case you missed it, new reporting from Maine Beacon highlights Susan Collins’ latest vote to confirm an anti-abortion judicial nominee, continuing her long pattern of backing judges who threaten reproductive freedom.

This week, Collins voted to confirm Katie Lane to a lifetime federal judgeship despite Lane’s record of supporting efforts to restrict abortion access. Lane previously served as counsel in a case seeking to block abortion care in Guam. As Montana’s assistant solicitor general, she also urged the Montana Supreme Court to overturn a 23-year-old precedent protecting the constitutional right to abortion in the state.

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Maine Beacon: Continuing Trump-era pattern, Collins votes to confirm judge with history of restricting abortion

By Channa Steinmetz

June 3, 2026

• Continuing a pattern of votes during the Trump administration, Sen. Susan Collins voted this week to confirm Kathleen “Katie” Lane — who has a record of supporting efforts to restrict abortion access and roll back reproductive rights — to a lifetime federal judgeship.

• Lane, who was confirmed to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, previously urged the Montana Supreme Court to overturn a 23-year-old precedent protecting the constitutional right to abortion. She also worked to defend abortion restrictions in Montana and served as counsel in litigation seeking to block abortion care in Guam.

• Collins’ vote is the latest in a long series of judicial confirmations that have reshaped the federal courts. Collins voted to confirm Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, whose votes helped overturn Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs decision. She also voted against the Women’s Health Protection Act, legislation that would have restored federal abortion protections.

• Since the start of Pres. Donald Trump’s second term, Collins has voted to confirm numerous judicial nominees with records defending abortion bans, restricting access to medication abortion, and advocating against reproductive rights. According to Planned Parenthood Votes, Collins has supported 95 percent of Trump’s judicial nominees during his second term.

• Among those confirmations are judges who defended near-total abortion bans, argued for overturning Roe v. Wade, supported fetal personhood measures, and sought restrictions on medication abortion.