NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Urges President Bush to Consult, Not Confrontation, in Nomination of Next Supreme Court Justice
Pro-choice Ohioans mobilize in support of a moderate consensus nominee. (Cleveland, OH) – NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, the state’s leading advocate for personal privacy and a woman’s right to choose, issued the following statement in response to Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s announcement that she will retire from the Supreme Court. “Justice Sandra Day O’Connor has played a pivotal role on the Supreme Court. Her vote has often been the vote that protected individual freedoms. Her retirement provides President Bush with an opportunity to unite the country behind a consensus nominee,” said Kellie Copeland, Executive Director. “He can follow the path of Republican and Democratic presidents before him and consult with members of both parties to identify a consensus nominee with broad support. Americans deserve a nomination process that keeps the Supreme Court independent, not a political power grab that will divide the country. But if President Bush chooses the course of confrontation and far right extremism, we’re ready to protect individual freedom and personal privacy.” As part of its “Choose Justice” campaign, NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio is activating a network of 20,000 activists--including 700 Rapid Responders, who will conduct petition drives, contact their lawmakers, and distribute flyers and information on the significance of this Supreme Court vacancy and the need for a moderate justice who respects our country’s long tradition of personal freedom and responsibility. They will urge President Bush to consult with both parties and nominate a justice who understands the profound impact his or her decisions will have on the lives of everyday Americans.
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