Fidelis: Judge Alito’s Personal Views Not Relevant

From Fidelis.org:

WASHINGTON — Fidelis on Wednesday condemned the suggestion by some U.S. Senators and the media that Judge Alito’s personal views are relevant in determining his qualifications for the Supreme Court calling them an early example of the promised attacks by liberal groups.

The controversy stems from a 1985 application to the Justice Department in which he explained that he personally believed the Constitution does not protect a right to abortion.

Senators Schumer and Kennedy have both argued that Judge Alito’s personal views on abortion raised the perception of bias and that they intended to focus heavily on his personal views in his confirmation hearings. Wednesday’s New York Times called on Senators to prepare to reject Alito if he could not satisfy their concerns about the 20-year old statement.

Fidelis President Joseph Cella explained, “Judge Alito made an important distinction in his meeting with Senator Feinstein. He explained that in 1985 he was pursuing a political job where his personal views were relevant. For the past 15 years, he has served as a circuit court judge where his personal views play no role. His distinguished record of applying the law in an evenhanded and unbiased manner is what is truly significant.”

Cella continued: “Judge Alito is not running for political office and thus his personal views on abortion, the war on terror, or any other hot button political issues are irrelevant. As a Supreme Court Justice, Judge Alito will be called upon to apply the law as the Constitution requires. The job of the Senate is to evaluate his judicial record, temperament, and ability to impartially carry out this responsibility. His personal views should not be on trial here.”

Fidelis pointed to the growing number of legal scholars, former law clerks, and federal judges, many of whom hold opposite views on abortion, who have vouched for Alito’s impartial application of the law.

“Senators Schumer and Kennedy and the Left are entering dangerous territory when they suggest that unless a nominee personally accepts their political ideology, he or she cannot sit on the Supreme Court. This is an early example of the promised attacks by liberal groups as they try to derail the nomination of Judge Alito,” said Cella.

Fidelis is a Catholic-based organization working with people of faith across the country to defend and promote the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and the right to religious liberty by electing pro-life, pro-family and pro-religious liberty candidates, supporting the confirmation of judges, and promoting and defending laws faithful to the Constitution of the United States.