Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Durbin Throws Down the Gauntlet on Roberts, terms nominee "controversial"

Well, that didn't last long....from the Illinois Leader.

Illinois' senior Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the Assistant Democrat Leader in the U.S. Senate, has wasted little time in launching against Judge John Roberts, President Bush's choice for the Supreme Court slot being vacated by retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Durbin has said that the President's decision to put forward John Roberts, 50, who he termed a "controversial nominee" guarantees a "controversial nomination process."

Durbin previously clashed with Roberts during the confirmation process for the federal judgeship he now holds. Durbin questioned Roberts characterization of the Rehnquist Court as not necessarily conservative, saying that the the record of the court defied easy labels.

Durbin joined Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in voting against Roberts' ultimately successful appointment to the Appeals Court of the District of Columbia approximately two years ago.

Durbin has previously declared that any nominee that did not respect the Court's 1965 decision in Griswold v. Connecticut that created a person's right to privacy (the precursor to the Roe v. Wade decision) should be filibustered.

No comments: