Will Obama Nominee Respect The Constitution?

WASHINGTON, DC – Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA) Executive Director Michael Thielen today released the following statement concerning news reports of the retirement of Associate Justice David Souter:

“President Obama has said he wants to lead all Americans and this is an opportunity for him to do so by putting forward a nominee who respects the Constitution and understands the job of a judge is to interpret the law as it is written as opposed to create it.

Unfortunately, we must refer back to Obama’s record in the Senate when he opposed both Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito, participating in a filibuster against Alito. RNLA would hope President Obama doesn’t go against his promises to bring this nation together by putting forward an activist nominee who would be unacceptable to the majority of our nation’s citizens and elected representatives.”

BACKGROUND:

Obama Voted Against Confirming Judge John G. Roberts, Jr.’s Nomination To Be Chief Justice Of The U.S. Supreme Court. (Roberts Nomination – Confirmation, CQ Vote #245: Confirmed 78-22: R 55-0; D 22-22; I 1-0, 9/29/05, Obama Voted Nay)

Obama Voted Against Confirming Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr.’s Nomination To The U.S. Supreme Court. (Alito Nomination – Confirmation, CQ Vote #2: Confirmed 58-42: R 54-1; D 4-40; I 0-1, 1/31/06, Obama Voted Nay)

Obama Voted To Filibuster Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. (Alito Cloture Vote, CQ Vote #1: Motion Passed 72-25: R 53-0; D 19-24; I 0-1, 1/30/06, Obama Voted Nay)