WASHINGTON, D.C., August 31, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – U.S. Attorney-GeneralÂAlberto Gonzales, who many commentators had initially posited was a likely candidate for the Supreme Court vacancy, remarked on Tuesday that it would be “appropriate” for Roberts to be asked questions about his personal views on abortion during the upcoming Senate hearings.
Gonzales cautioned, however, that Roberts should not be asked to answer questions about “an issue or case that he may have to preside on.” This may include the contentious abortion ruling, Roe V. Wade.
“In analyzing the answer to that question, I would caution everyone to remember that a judge’s personal view about an issue may tell you absolutely nothing about his or her views about that issue as a legal matter,” continued Gonazles , as reported in USA Today. “But I suppose that might be a question that would certainly be appropriate to ask, and he may choose to answer that question.”
“Judge Roberts … will seek to assure the American people that he will be fair and open-minded, that he understands what his role is as a judge in our system of government: not to legislate, not to execute laws but to apply the law.”
In other recent news, the hullabaloo over documents pertaining to Roberts continues. Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont recently complained that the “handling of information relating to this important nomination is extremely disappointing.”
One of the strategies of Democrats throughout the nomination process has been to level accusations at Republicans that they are purposely withholding documents about Roberts, the insinuation being that incriminating material is being swept beneath the carpet.
However, despite a thorough reading of the tens of thousands of documents that have so far been released, Democrats are still repeating the tired-out ‘facts’ about Robert’s past involvement in composing government briefs that opposed Roe v. Wade, even though he has explicitly distanced himself from those briefs.
“Tens of thousands of documents have already been released,” said Senator John Cornyn, “more than any Supreme Court nominee in history. And with each new release of information, it’s growing increasingly difficult for the president’s opponents to complain with a straight face about the need for more information.”
Roberts’ Senate confirmation hearings are slated to being next Tuesday, and are expected to last for five days. Roberts has been preparing for those hearings with a series of mock question and answer sessions, similar to those he will undergo in the Senate next week.
Most observers believe that Robert’s will be overwhelmingly confirmed, as Democrats have so far, despite weeks of intense scrutiny, been unable to come up with any specific criticisms other than a vague malaise about his purported conservatism.
See also
Roberts’s Résumé; It’s distinguished, conservative, and a product of the Reagan era.
https://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/006/009lxcvg.asp
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