WASHINGTON, D.C. — "It is an understatement to say that filling a
vacancy on the United States Supreme Court will enable President Bush
to make a long-lasting impact on this nation’s judicial system," said
American Life League president Judie Brown. "That is why it is crucial
that any potential candidate be examined very carefully to see not
only where that candidate personally stands on abortion, but how that
person would treat abortion as a member of the country’s highest
court."

Names of a number of potential candidates are being floated in
Washington, in anticipation of Chief Justice William Rehnquist’s
retirement. "During previous questioning, a number of these jurists
have said that they’re personally opposed to abortion, but that they
would not rule against it as members of federal circuit or appeals
courts," said Brown. "One would not want to see such
compartmentalization of the evil of abortion in the mind of a Supreme
Court justice."

Some potential judicial nominees have described Roe v. Wade as
"settled law," or have stated that the case has stood the test of
time. "That disturbs me greatly," said Brown, "and it should disturb
all pro-lifers. Abortion is not ’settled law’; it is the
unconscionable taking of an innocent human person’s life. We’re not
talking about nuances and intricacies of law here. We’re talking about
flesh and blood — and murder. Any nominee, or potential nominee, who
holds such a ’settled law’ position is inherently unfit to serve.
President Bush would be well advised to find a true pro-lifer when he
is called upon to name a new justice. There’s too much at stake here
to settle for anything else."