Should Roberts become chief justice?

Sept. 27, 2005

JOEL DAVIDSON\Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU - A small but committed group of abortion-rights activists gathered Friday night at Mat-Su College to watch a documentary film highlighting the extremist anti-abortion group Operation Rescue.

The Mat-Su chapter of the National Organization of Women hosted the evening in an attempt to show that U.S. Supreme Court nominee John Roberts poses a threat to abortion rights laws.

In August, the abortion-rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America attempted to make a similar link between Roberts and the same violent anti-abortion rights activists by launching a national ad campaign in opposition to the nominee.

The ad, however, was pulled a week after its debut due to heavy criticism from both sides of the abortion debate. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., considers himself an abortion-rights supporter but condemned the ad as "blatantly untrue and unfair." As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Specter voted last week to endorse Roberts to be the next chief justice of the United States.

Despite the national outcry over their attempt to associate Roberts with Operation Rescue, Mat-Su NOW maintains that Roberts is still a threat to abortion rights.

"This film is part of an ongoing effort to fight the radical right," said Barbara McDaniel, president of Mat-Su NOW. "Mr. Roberts is definitely a conservative. We know clearly that he is a conservative and anyone who cares about racism or sexism in this country has no business supporting a conservative."

Karen Vosburgh, executive director of Alaska Right to Life, said her group doesn't have an official position on Judge Roberts but believes he is qualified to take a spot on the highest court - a position she hopes he will use to change abortion laws.

"No one really knows what he is going to do," Vosburgh said Friday. "He is a good moral man but what effects will he have? I think a ban on partial birth abortion will probably occur across the nation."

Alaska Right to Life actively opposes all forms of abortion - both on the statewide and national level - and is currently working to reverse a policy at Valley Hospital that requires the facility to make abortion services available there.

Vosburgh, however, said her organization strongly opposes any anti-abortion group that uses violence - a position she believes Roberts shares.

"Alaska Right to Life is pro-life, we do not believe in killing anyone," she said. "If you kill an abortionist, you take away their chance to live a full life."

McDaniel and the national organization of NOW maintain, however, that Roberts' work on behalf of the U.S. government illustrates a strong opposition to abortion rights.

In 1991, Roberts helped write - on behalf of the government - a Supreme Court brief in Bray v. Alexandria Women's Health Clinic. In that case, the court limited the federal help available to abortion clinic owners who seek to stop blockades by protesters.

"This film is just to help people understand a little bit more about that case, Mr. Roberts' take on it and our group's take on it," McDaniel said.

The full U.S. Senate began final debate over Roberts on Monday. A final vote is expected Thursday, Sept. 29.

If confirmed, Roberts will be the youngest justice in 193 years and the third-youngest chief justice in history. John Jay, who became chief in 1789 at age 43, was the youngest and John Marshall, second youngest, was 45 when he became chief in 1801.

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266, or joel.davidson@

frontiersman.com.