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Tell Your Senators: Don't Rush on Judge Roberts!
To replace Justice O'Connor, President George Bush has nominated a federal appeals judge, John G. Roberts (currently on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals). Judge Roberts, serving as a deputy solicitor general under Ken Starr, argued to the Supreme Court that there is no constitutional right to abortion whatsoever. He also unsuccessfully urged the Court to allow official prayers at public high school graduation ceremonies. If confirmed, Judge Roberts would no longer have to argue these positions to the Supreme Court; he would be among the nine justices who vote on what the law of the land will be. Here at the CSH, we are concerned that the President is seeking to tilt the Court in a direction that would nullify 58 years of unbroken support for church-state separation. Take action now, and tell your senators not to confirm John Roberts until they're absolutely certain that he's right for the job!
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , As you know, President Bush has nominated John G. Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court. As with any Supreme Court nominee, he must be asked tough questions, because the future of the interpretation of the Constitution is at stake. By all accounts, Judge Roberts is bright and well-qualified, but his ideology is disturbing. He represents the regressive wing of constitutional interpretation. Specifically, it appears as though he will not support our constitutional right to privacy, established through such landmark cases as Griswald v. Connecticut, Roe v. Wade, and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey. The constitutional right to privacy, as interpreted by these cases and upheld by the present Court, will in all likelihood be severely curtailed, or eliminated entirely, if Judge Roberts's judicial philosophy is as it appears to be. I urge you to please specifically inquire as to whether Judge Roberts will uphold our constitutional right to privacy, as established in those landmark cases. The future of our freedoms depends upon you doing your utmost to protect them in the upcoming hearings for the Roberts nomination. Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely, |
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| Background Information |
Council For Secular Humanism Opposes Nomination of Judge Roberts
As the largest organization in the country representing the interests of nonreligious people, the Council for Secular Humanism is devoted to the preservation of the separation of church and state. This precious notion of equal rights for all, believer and nonbeliever alike, is in danger of being severely limited by a shift in votes on the Supreme Court. The separation of church and state, the preservation of full equal rights for nonbelievers, is so mainstream that even retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a mainstream conservative, was one of the strongest advocates of government neutrality in matters of religion.
The President is seeking to tilt the Court in a direction that would nullify 58 years of unbroken support for church-state separation. To replace Justice O'Connor, he has nominated a federal appeals judge, John G. Roberts. Judge Roberts, serving as a deputy solicitor general under Ken Starr, argued to the Supreme Court that there is no constitutional right to abortion whatsoever. He also unsuccessfully urged the Court to allow official prayers at public high school graduation ceremonies.
If confirmed, Judge Roberts would no longer have to argue these positions to the Supreme Court. He would be among the nine justices who vote on what the law of the land will be.
We urge everyone to contact their two United States senators and urge the rejection of the nomination of Judge Roberts to the Supreme Court. If Ronald Reagan could provide us with a mainstream justice like Sandra Day O' Connor, so can President Bush.
Paul Kurtz
Founder, Chairman, Council for Secular Humanism
David Koepsell
Executive Director, Council for Secular Humanism
Tom Flynn
Editor, Free Inquiry magazine
Edward Tabash
Chair, First Amendment Task Force
