WASHINGTON – Today in the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) questioned UC Berkeley School of Law Professor Khiara M. Bridges on the value of unborn children’s lives. Excerpts are below, and video can be found here.

Sen. Cornyn: “Do you think a baby that is delivered alive has value?”

Prof. Bridges: “Yes.”

Sen. Cornyn: “Do you think that a baby that is not yet born has value?”

Prof. Bridges: “I believe that a person with the capacity for pregnancy has value. They have intelligence. They have agency. The have dignity.”

Sen. Cornyn: “No, I’m talking about the baby.”

Prof. Bridges: “And I’m talking about the person with the capacity for pregnancy.”

Sen. Cornyn: “You’re not answering the question I’m asking.”

Prof. Bridges: “I’m answering a more interesting question, to me.”

Sen. Cornyn: “Do you think that a baby that is not yet born – let’s say, the day before this mother delivers – do you think that baby has value?”

Prof. Bridges: “I think that the person with the capacity for pregnancy has value, and they should have the ability to control what happens to their lives.”

Sen. Cornyn: “Well, I would just note you refuse to answer the question.”