NARAL Pro-Choice Washington Responds to Statements by Washington’s Pro-Choice Senators on the Nomination of John Roberts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2005
SEATTLE – NARAL Pro-Choice Washington released the following statement in response to today’s announcement by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) that she will support John Roberts’ nomination to the Supreme Court and the announcement yesterday by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) that she will oppose his nomination.
“This afternoon Senator Murray announced that she would vote to confirm John Roberts as Chief Justice. Clearly, we’re disappointed. However, Senator Murray has always been a leader in the United States Senate on women’s reproductive rights and we are proud to have her represent our state in the Senate. Senator Murray said today that she believes that as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Judge Roberts will represent all Americans, not just members of the conservative right. We hope that Senator Murray is correct and that Roberts will be a justice for all Americans.”
“Senator Murray’s decision to support John Roberts makes it even more imperative that she and all Senators very closely examine the nominee to replace Sandra Day O’Connor, who is the swing vote on the Court protecting women’s reproductive freedom.”
“We were very pleased by Senator Cantwell’s statement yesterday of her intention to vote against John Roberts. Thousands of Washingtonians contacted their United States Senators and urged them to oppose this nominee. Although his confirmation is at this point assured, we believe that it is important for United States Senators to speak for their constituents on all issues.”
“As we move forward to the next nomination, the stakes are even higher. President Bush’s next nomination will be for Sandra Day O’Connor’s seat. She is a swing vote who has put reason before ideology and defended women’s reproductive freedom. Many have said that replacing William Rehnquist with Roberts would not cause a major ideological shift in the direction of the Court. This is not the case with O’Connor’s seat. President Bush has an even greater obligation to nominate an individual who reflects O’Connor’s moderate mold—and protect the fundamental freedoms that Americans value.”
“NARAL Pro-Choice Washington opposes John Roberts’ nomination. We are deeply concerned about how Roberts will rule on reproductive rights cases because he refused to say whether the right to privacy includes a woman’s right to choose, and his answers mirrored those of Clarence Thomas, who said he supported privacy then voted to overturn Roe.”
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