 |
|
|
 Editorials | At Issue | August 2005 
Roberts Questioned Value of Women Lawyers
 David Espo - Associated Press
Washington - Supreme Court nominee John Roberts disparaged state efforts to combat discrimination against women in Reagan-era documents made public Thursday, and wondered whether "encouraging homemakers to become lawyers contributes to the common good."
A young White House lawyer at the time, Roberts also criticized a crime-fighting proposal by Sen. Arlen Specter as "the epitome of the 'throw money at the problem"' approach.
Specter, R-Pa., then a first-term senator, is now chairman of the Judiciary Committee and will preside at Roberts' confirmation hearings, scheduled to begin Sept. 6.
The documents, released simultaneously in Washington and at the Reagan Library in California, show Roberts held a robust view of presidential powers under the Constitution. "I am institutionally disposed against adopting a limited reading of a statute conferring power on the president," he wrote in 1985.
The materials made public completed the disclosure of more than 50,000 pages that cover Roberts' tenure as a lawyer in the White House counsel's office from 1982-86.
Nearly 2,000 more pages from the same period have been withheld on national security or privacy grounds.
Also, over the persistent protests of Senate Democrats, the White House has refused to make available any of the records covering Roberts' later tenure as principal deputy solicitor general during the administration of President George H.W. Bush.
The material released Thursday did little or nothing to alter the image of Roberts as a young lawyer whose views on abortion, affirmative action, school prayer and more were in harmony with the conservative president he served.
Democrats say they will question Roberts closely at his hearings. And despite the apparently long odds against them, civil rights and women's groups are beginning to mount an attempt to defeat his nomination.
Emily's List drew attention to a recent speech by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., in which Boxer raised the possibility of a filibuster if Roberts doesn't elaborate on his views on abortion and privacy rights at his hearings. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us