Site Navigation
|
Audio
Photos
Resources
|
July 20, 2005
 |
| Judge John G. Roberts, Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit was nominated by President George W. Bush to the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday. Roberts would fill the vacancy created by Justice Sandra Day O'Conner, who announced her retirement last month. (Photo by Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images) |
St. Paul, Minn. — Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton says he's going to withhold his judgment on Judge John Roberts until Roberts completes his confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He says Roberts deserves a fair and open hearing.
Dayton did say he's disappointed the president didn't choose a woman to replace retiring justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Dayton says he doesn't know much about the federal appeals court judge, but questions his experience on the bench and his age. Roberts is 50, and has served on the Court of Appeals for two years. Dayton says he wants to hear Roberts discuss how he'll approach previous Supreme Court rulings.
"Is he likely to support a continuation of fundamental decisions that have previously been made by prior Supreme Courts, or is he inclined to make a radical overhaul of those prior decisions?" Dayton says.
Supporters of legalized abortion are also asking those questions. Those groups are concerned that a narrowly divided Supreme Court could shift against them with Roberts on the bench. Roberts was appointed to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who was the deciding vote on several key abortion rulings.
The abortion rights group NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota opposes Roberts out of concern he would scale back or reverse the landmark abortion decision, Roe vs. Wade.
The group's executive director, Tim Stanley, sent out a news release Thursday night criticizing the president's appointment of Roberts, even before the president made his official announcement.
"From this point forward, we oppose John Roberts' appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. We are calling on our two U.S. senators to oppose this nomination by whatever means necessary," says Stanley.
Officials with Planned Parenthood of Minnesota say they haven't decided whether to support or oppose Roberts' nomination. But Planned Parenthood's Tina Smith says her group is concerned that as deputy solicitor general in 1990, Roberts argued that Roe vs. Wade should be overturned.
"That, in particular, is one example of why we think it's so important to listen carefully, and ask tough questions, as he goes through what we hope is a sane and deliberative nomination process," says Smith.
While supporters of abortion rights are worried about President Bush's choice, opponents of legalized abortion are praising Roberts' nomination. Scott Fischbach, executive director of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, is in favor of reversing Roe. He says the Roberts selection should spark a healthy discussion about abortion in the United States.
"Just the mere fact that we're talking about a Supreme Court justice going onto the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005, and one of the most contentious issues that's being discussed is the abortion issue, shows that the American public is not comfortable with what Roe vs. Wade did," says Fishbach.
A group of Republican state lawmakers and attorneys spoke at a news conference organized by the Minnesota GOP to encourage Sen. Dayton and other Democrats not to hold up Roberts' confirmation.
Republican Rep. Jeff Johnson, who's also running for state attorney general, says he wants to see Roberts confirmed quickly.
"What I am greatly concerned about is that this could turn into a circus, or the filibuster issue comes back up again," says Johnson. "When the up-or-down vote occurs, we would like to see both of our senators vote for the nominee."
Republican Sen. Norm Coleman was unavailable for an interview. But in a news release, and in a statement on the Senate floor, he praised Roberts' appointment.
In his statement, Coleman praised Roberts' "distinguished record" in White House and Justice Department posts before being confirmed as an appeals court judge in 2003.
"I cannot think of a better qualified person than Judge Roberts to fill this vacancy," Coleman said. "His extensive experience and sound legal judgment, along with an exemplary record of 39 cases argued before the Supreme Court, shows that the President has chosen a nominee of high integrity essential for the High Court."
On the Senate floor, Coleman encouraged his Senate colleagues to look at Roberts' credentials when considering his nomination.
"We have a unique opportunity to come together and have a dignified process, but not to be polled by special interest groups who will try to dictate what we should do based on their beliefs, rather than what's good for the country," said Coleman.
But groups on both sides say their beliefs are what's good for the country. It's likely that the lobbying will only accelerate between now and when hearings begin in late August or early September.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
|
|