Bush picks anti-abortion judge for Supreme Court

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Bush picks anti-abortion judge for Supreme Court
July 20, 2005 - 11:49AM


US President George Bush's nominee for the Supreme Court, John Roberts jnr.
Photo: AP

US President George Bush has chosen federal appeals court judge John Roberts jnr as his first nominee for the Supreme Court.

The selection of a rock-solid conservative could trigger a tumultuous battle over the direction of the nation's highest court, a senior administration official said.

Mr Bush offered the position to Mr Roberts in a telephone call at 12.35pm on Tuesday after a lunch with the visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

He was to announce it later with a flourish in a nationally broadcast speech to the nation.


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http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/bush-picks-antiabortion-judge-for-supreme-court/2005/07/20/1121539012459.html?oneclick=true

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1. John Roberts: Sparse Record Raises Serious Concerns

John Roberts: Sparse Record Raises Serious Concerns


Opinions and argued cases raise doubts about where Roberts stands on protection of Americans’ constitutional rights and freedoms; Sparse record requires close Senate scrutiny to determine suitability for Court

Federal appeals court Judge John Roberts, nominated by President Bush to the U.S. Supreme Court, has a sparse public record; and several of his judicial opinions and argued cases raise real concerns about his suitability for the Supreme Court, said People For the American Way President Ralph G. Neas.

“It is extremely disappointing that the President did not choose a consensus nominee in the mold of Sandra Day O’Connor,” said Neas. “John Roberts’ record raises serious concerns and questions about where he stands on crucial legal and constitutional issues – it will be critical for Senators and the American people to get answers to those questions. Replacing O’Connor with someone who is not committed to upholding Americans’ rights, liberties, and legal protections would be a constitutional catastrophe.”

Roberts was a corporate law firm lawyer for most of his career; where he does have a record, said Neas, Roberts has failed to show a commitment to fundamental civil and constitutional rights, both in his role as a Deputy Solicitor General and as a judge. Neas called on all senators, regardless of political party, to take the time necessary to carefully review Roberts’ complete record and insist that Roberts openly and fully discuss his judicial philosophy on important constitutional and legal issues.

Advocating Against Privacy Rights and First Amendment Protections
As Deputy Solicitor General during the first Bush administration, Roberts tried to convince the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade in a case that didn’t even directly concern that issue. The case, Rust v. Sullivan, dealt with a rule prohibiting federally funded family planning clinics from discussing abortion with patients, not the validity of Roe, which protects a women’s constitutional right to reproductive freedom. Nevertheless, Roberts’ brief proclaimed that “e continue to believe that Roe was wrongly decided and should be overruled” and that the Court’s ruling that a woman has a fundamental right to make her own reproductive choices about abortion has “no support in the text, structure or history of the Constitution.”


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http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=19265

[Oversea Visitor]

2. Thanks Bush

Now let the Republician party
Fight over this

Democrats should just ask question then not vote

Why?

Shift the battleground
No more spin on partisan politic
Let the Republican fight over this

[Walt Starr]

3. His writings have both opposed and supported Roe

The only opposing view was in a brief filed on behalf of Bush I's administration.

An attorney must vehemently defend his/her client. He did so for Bush I.