From Robert Byrd’s website:
In advance of the Senate’s vote on the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the United States Supreme Court, Senator Byrd criticized the politicized, media-driven nature of the judicial nomination process and announced his decision to support Judge Alito.
After the President nominated Judge Alito for the Supreme Court, Byrd met with the Judge and discussed extensively with him the importance of separation of powers and checks and balances. The Senator, who guards zealously the powers granted to the People’s Branch of government by the Constitution’s Framers, pressed Judge Alito on the Constitutional responsibilities of each branch and the importance of each branch serving as a check against overreaching or abuses by another branch. The Judge indicated his respect for the Framers’ design and the importance of adhering to that design, whether in times of war or peace.
Senator Byrd noted that Judge Alito also discussed the importance of judicial precedent. “He expressed strong support for ‘stare decisis’ — ‘let the decision stand.’ That’s important, for a Justice on the Supreme Court needs to have respect for precedent and earlier Court rulings,” Byrd said.
The Senator and the Judge also discussed freedom of religion and the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution’s Bill of Rights — “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;…..” Byrd expressed his concern that the federal courts have paid a great deal of attention to the first part of that clause — “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” — and not enough attention to its conclusion — “or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”
After their discussion, the West Virginia lawmaker stated, “I was very satisfied with what Judge Alito had to say about that First Amendment. He indicated that he felt that the people have a very distinct right to express their religious views. We’re a very diverse nation, and there is room for all kinds of viewpoints here. People should have the right to express their views of religion.”
If you have already sent your letters to Ken Salazar, Mary Landrieu, Lincoln Chafee, and Olympia Snowe, then please take the time to politely tell Senator Byrd how disappointed you are with his decision.
