Dick Durbin: “In light of Justice Sykes' statements in the case, I have serious concerns about whether she recognizes the fundamental…”

“In light of Justice Sykes' statements in the case, I have serious concerns about whether she recognizes the fundamental right of privacy and about her ability to rule fairly in cases involving constitutionally protected rights to privacy. But let me be clear. My opposition to this nominee is not because I am pro-choice on the abortion record and Justice Sykes may be pro-life. I and my Democratic colleagues have voted for over 95 percent of President Bush's nominees--191 judges as of today. It is likely that the vast majority of them were pro-life on the abortion issue. Deborah Cook, now a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, was endorsed by the Ohio Right to Life organization. Lavenski Smith, a judge on the Eighth Circuit, sought to make all abortions in Arkansas illegal except to save the life of the mother. Michael Fisher, now on the Third Circuit, advocated that abortion is wrong and should be illegal even in cases of rape and incest. I voted for all three of these pro-life nominees. I voted for James Browning, a judge we recently confirmed to the district court in New Mexico. Judge Browning had spoken at pro-life rallies and called the pro-choice position 'the tyranny of the majority over the minority.' He called on people who are pro-choice to 'make the choice of life, not holocaust.' Despite his passionate feelings, I voted to confirm him. Why?…”