William H. Frist: “The letter reads pretty clearly: ``Dear Chairman Specter''--and there was a copy sent to Senator Leahy. This is from the…”

“The letter reads pretty clearly: ``Dear Chairman Specter''--and there was a copy sent to Senator Leahy. This is from the author of the legislation of which these accusations of judicial activism have been floating around on the floor. These are the authors, the people who wrote--who wrote--the legislation. I quote from the letter: I, along with my colleagues in the Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives, am writing to express my full and unconditional support for Justice Priscilla Owen's nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. As the author of the Texas Parental Notification Act, I followed closely the Texas State Supreme Court rulings regarding that statute. As such, we are disturbed by the recent attacks on Justice Owen's review of the Texas Parental Notification Act. Justice Owen's opponents have characterized her as an activist member of the bench, and nothing could be further from the truth. The letter continues: To the contrary, her opinions interpreting the Texas Parental Notification Act serve as prime examples of her judicial restraint. Mr. President, I will have my colleagues read the remainder of the letter. It goes on and gives examples in explaining that statement. And then, down in the following paragraph, I quote: Throughout the series of cases, Justice Owen's interpretation of legislative intent were based on careful reading of the new statute and the governing U.S. Supreme Court precedent.…”