Meet the New Supreme Court Nominee

It has just been reported that President Bush's nominee to the Supreme Court is John G. Roberts Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Roberts was appointed to his current position by the president in 2003 and enjoyed both Republican and Democratic support during his confirmation process.

Have conservatives' dreams come true? Are we witnessing the arrival of the pro-life, constructionist judge of whom Bush's supporters have long prophesied? A recent AP article seems to suggest that we are:

Abortion rights groups allege that Roberts, while deputy solicitor general during former President Bush's administration, is hostile to women's reproductive freedom and cite a brief he co-wrote in 1990 that suggested the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 high court decision that legalized abortion.

"The court's conclusion in Roe that there is a fundamental right to an abortion ... finds no support in the text, structure or history of the Constitution," the brief said.

What a relief to see someone with common sense and conviction nominated to the highest court in the land!

In his defense, Roberts told senators during his 2003 confirmation hearing that he would be guided by legal precedent. "Roe v. Wade is the settled law of the land. ... There is nothing in my personal views that would prevent me from fully and faithfully applying that precedent."

Sorry. Never mind. I mistook Roberts' upright position in his photo as evidence of a backbone.

They must use quite a bit of starch in those judicial robes.