www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/11/11/bush.cabinet/index.html
"As a Texas Supreme Court justice, Gonzales' rulings implied he does not view abortion as a heinous crime," said Judie Brown, president of the Am erican Life League, in a written statement. Bush announced Wednesday that he had chosen his long-time friend to repla ce Attorney General John Ashcroft, who is stepping down.
Gonzales has worked with Bush since he was the governor of Texas -- s erving as Bush's general counsel, then as Texas Secretary of State befor e Bush appointed him to the state's highest court.
Gonzales politic al fortunes tied to Bush's) As a member of the court, Gonzales ruled with the majority that some teen age girls should not be required to get parental permission for an abort ion. In his opinion on the ruling, Gonzales wrote, "While the ramifications of such a law may be personally troubling to me as a parent, it is my obli gation as a judge to impartially apply the laws of this state without im posing my moral view on the decisions of the legislature." Brown said that "choosing not to rule against abortion, in any situation, is the epitome of denying justice for an entire segment of the American population -- pre-born babies in the womb." She also cited a 2001 interview with the Los Angeles Times in which Gonza les was asked whether his personal view of abortion would play a role in his vetting of judges. He responded, "There are no litmus tests for judicial candidates. The question is , what is the law, what is the precedent, what is binding in rendering y our decision. Sometimes, interpreting a statute, you may have to uphold a statute that you may find personally offensive. Said Brown, "Gonzales' position is clear: The personhood of the pre-born human being is secondary to technical points of law, and that is a deadl y perspective for anyone to take. Justice begins with protecti ng the most vulnerable in our midst. Please, Mr President -- just say n o to the unjust views of Alberto Gonzales." The president of Operation Rescue, based in Sacramento, California, said he had not yet f ormed an opinion on the nomination. "I'm glad he's not up for Supreme Court justice," said the Rev. Patrick M ahoney, who runs the Christian Defense Coalition in Washington. "His fee lings on abortion we're a little concerned about." Gonzales has also been criticized by civil liberties groups, including th e American Civil Liberties Union. ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero issued a statement calling for a c onfirmation process "that scrutinizes Mr Gonzales' positions on key civ il liberties and human rights issues. "Particular attention should be devoted to exploring MrGonzales' propose d policies on the constitutionality of the Patriot Act, the Guantanamo B ay detentions, the designation of United States citizens as enemy combat ants and reproductive rights."
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