[News-releases] Women's Rights Supporters Call on Senate to Vote Down PriscillaOwen Nomination?Again

NOW Press Office
202-628-8669 Rebecca Farmer, x 116
202-785-8576 (fax) 

Women's Rights Supporters Call on Senate to Vote Down Priscilla Owen
Nomination?Again

March 13, 2003

Statement of NOW Action Vice President Olga Vives

NOW calls on the Senate to reject the Priscilla Owen nomination, part
two. Owen is still an inappropriate nominee?the only thing that has
changed is the balance of power in the Senate. Texas Supreme Court
Justice Priscilla Owen's penchant for judicial activism may have earned
her Bush's nomination to the Fifth Circuit, but it should not win her a
seat on the Court of Appeals.

We've seen Judge Owen use the courtroom to further her narrow beliefs and
ideals, going so far as to virtually re-write laws rather than fairly
interpret them. The last thing the Fifth Circuit needs is more judges who
can't leave their political ideologies at the door. For example, Owen
supports "stricter interpretation" of the Texas law requiring
women younger than 18 to inform their parents before obtaining an
abortion unless they successfully make their case to a judge. In every
such case that came before the Texas Supreme Court during one review
period, Judge Owen voted against granting the bypass. 

Even White House Counsel and former fellow Texas Supreme Court Justice
Alberto Gonzales referred to Owen's extremist position in a reproductive
rights case as an "unconscionable act of judicial activism."
Owen has been described as being on the "far right wing" of the
Texas Court, even more to the right than Bush's own appointees to that
court when he was governor. A judge whose political zealotry prevents
fair application of the law has no place on the federal bench. 

In addition to disdaining women's rights, Owen has demonstrated a
commitment to money over ethics. In 1994, Enron endorsed her and
contributed $8,600 to her successful Texas Supreme court bid. Two years
later, she wrote the majority opinion that reduced Enron's taxes by $15
million, and according to Texans for Public Justice that court ruled in
Enron's favor in five out of six cases. Now a household name for
corruption, Enron contributed more money to Owen than did any other
corporation. 

Women's rights supporters across the country will be contacting the
members of the Senate Judiciary Committee via phone, fax and e-mail to
demand they reject the Priscilla Owen nomination yet again. We applaud
those senators with a commitment to women's rights and look forward to
their leadership in defeating this nominee the second time around.

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