Pryor Confirmation Guarantees Supreme Court Battle

June 9, 2005

The U.S. Senate handed George W. Bush and the Republicans another radical judicial lifetime appointment in a 53 to 45 vote today, with the confirmation of William Pryor, Jr., to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

"The elevation of William Pryor, Jr., to the U.S. Court of Appeals is a slap in the face to women, people of color, people with disabilities, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and anyone who believes in the separation of church and state," said NOW President Kim Gandy. "Pryor is the latest in Bush's parade of right-wing ideologues committed to turning the clock back on our hard-fought rights."

In past statements, Pryor boldly expressed his conservative ideology. On the Roe v. Wade decision he said, "Seven members of our highest court ripped the Constitution and ripped out the life of millions of unborn children." He also filed an amicus brief in Lawrence v. Texas to uphold sodomy laws, arguing that if a constitutional right protects "the choice of one's partner . . . (then it) must logically extend to activities like prostitution, adultery, necrophilia, bestiality, possession of child pornography, and even incest and pedophilia."

"The Republicans are now stacking the courts with judges who reflect their radical agenda by using the Democrat's fear of losing the filibuster before the debate over a Supreme Court nomination begins," Gandy said. "The 'gang of 14' Senators brokered a sham of a deal, and tried to fool all of us into believing there would be an advise and consent process on these nominees. Today's confirmation guaranteed a monumental fight for the Supreme Court."

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