WASHINGTON, DC Committee for Justice (CFJ) chairman C. Boyden Gray, which defends and promotes constitutionalist judicial nominees, today reacted to Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O Connor’s retirement.
“Today the battle is joined. We expect a fair, thoughtful confirmation process that treats the president and his nominee with respect.
“With Justice O Connor resigning, the Supreme Court has a 6-3 majority favoring Roe v Wade, so replacing her will not challenge Roe s core.
“We call on the Left to take a breath and resist their natural impulse towards exaggeration. We call on Democrats to resist the temptation to use their attack machine against a qualified nominee. All parties should withhold judgment until a fair and sober analysis has occurred.
“We expect the president to choose the best person for this difficult job. We have no doubt that the nominee will be of the highest legal excellence and integrity, who follows the Constitution, defends property rights, and as the president suggested in his press conference, refrains from making law from the bench. Any such nominee deserves a respectful hearing and an up or down vote. They do not deserve to have their record distorted.
“But we’re familiar with the special interests on the other side and what is demanded by their financial backers the trial lawyers, the pornography industry, the teachers unions that want to block equal educational opportunity for the inner city. We know they will attack almost any non-liberal nominee in hysterical terms.
“We will be watching Senate Democrats and intend to link moderate and red states senators to their liberal Senate colleagues and outside groups. If Sens. Kennedy, Schumer, Durbin, Leahy, and Boxer attack, it will be Ben Nelson (Neb), Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln (Ark), Robert Byrd (WVa), Bill Nelson (Fla), Tom Carper (Del), Debbie Stabenow (Mich), Jeff Bingaman (NMex), Evan Bayh (Ind), Byron Dorgan (ND), Mary Landrieu (La), and Tim Johnson (SD) who will be held accountable.”