My letter to the Senate about Judge Roberts

<![CDATA[People for the American Way has a system for sending letters to your senators and the Senate leadership about the review process for President Bush’ Supreme Court nominee, John Roberts. I urge you to use it.
I find it insulting as an American that the subtext of President Bush’s call for a “dignified process” is that his nominee should not be questioned energetically and thoroughly before taking a seat on the most powerful court in the world. A little conflict now will be a very good thing for the country over the next two to four decades that a 50-year-old nominee might serve on the court.
Here is the letter I sent, which asks for a dignified process of diligent review (feel free to use any part of it in support or opposition to the nomination):

Please spend the necessary time and effort to understand the judicial and ideological record of Judge John Roberts before passing judgement on him. That is the “dignity” of the Senate’s role as provider of advice and consent to the President on Supreme Court nominations you are obligated to uphold.

As a voter, I am very concerned that Roberts has expressed his belief that Roe v. Wade should be overturned in a written brief. Likewise, his recent ruling in support for military tribunals in cases of non-military detainees at Guantanamo Bay is not consistent with the Constitution’s guarantee of due process and a quick trial or repeated habeus corpus rulings of the Supreme Court, nor is it in line with the Geneva Convention, which has prevented far more harm for Americans when respected by enemy nations.

We should not weaken the U.S. position on human rights as we carry on a new kind of war, they should be strengthened as a sign of our beliefs and, hopefully, to extend the same protections to our citizens wherever they may be held during this conflict.

Judge Roberts does not seem to understand his duty to the Constitution. Rather, he seems intent in his pursuit of ideological goals and support for his party’s approach to national issues.

Please do not pass Judge Roberts’ nomination in the full Senate without extensive earnest examination of every aspect of his legal judgment and philosophy. I believe you will find him wanting, but I am prepared to hear you ask every question necessary and will support your efforts to take the time required for these deliberations, which will have a deep impact on our nation for decades to come.

Technorati Tags: Bush, neocon, Roberts, SupremeCourt

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