NARAL Pro-Choice America: Alito Fails to Refute Anti-Roe V. Wade Past

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NARAL Pro-Choice America: Alito Fails to Refute Anti-Roe V. Wade Past, Refuses to Acknowledge Landmark Decision as Settled Law

1/12/2006 2:43:00 PM

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=59221

Contact: Ted Miller of NARAL Pro-Choice America, 202-973-3032

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said that Samuel Alito concluded his portion of the hearings on his nomination for the Supreme Court without answering questions on fundamental issues regarding individual freedom and privacy.

"Samuel Alito consistently refused to answer thoughtful, fair questions on whether he supports the values of freedom of privacy for women as guaranteed by Roe v. Wade. Alito confirmed that in 1985 he endorsed a legal philosophy that the Constitution does not protect the right to choose, but refused to state his current legal and judicial philosophy on the issue. He said nothing this week to lead Americans to believe that he still doesn't hold these views," Keenan said. "As he evaded Roe-related questions from multiple senators, Alito gave full answers to questions on other legal issues and cited some as settled law. But Alito steadfastly refused to acknowledge Roe as settled law and even mischaracterized the constitutional foundation of important reproductive rights cases. It is clear that Americans who value freedom and privacy cannot support confirming him to a lifetime position on the Supreme Court."

NARAL Pro-Choice America produced response materials regarding Alito's answers to questions related to Roe v. Wade and the right to privacy. These reports are available at the links below:

http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/Issues/supremecourt/alito_comments_hearings_day3.cfm

http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/Issues/supremecourt/alito_comments_hearings_day2.cfm