Supreme Court: Abortion Won't Decide Court Nominee

President Bush, during his stop in Denmark before heading to the G-8 summit, said he will not select a Supreme Court nominee based on his or her views on abortion or other hot-button political issues.

The president said that as he reviews candidates, "I'll try to assess their character, their interests." Bush said he would have no "litmus test" that disqualifies candidates because of their opinions on abortion and gay marriage.

"I'll pick people who, one, can do the job, and people who are honest, people who are bright and people who will strictly interpret the Constitution and not use the bench to legislate from," Bush said.

Bush spent a few hours reviewing material on more than a half dozen potential replacements for O'Connor on his flight to Denmark. He has said that he will spend a few weeks narrowing a list of candidates and then interviewing some, and his goal is to see a new justice in place by the time the court begins its new term in October. "I will take my time," Bush said. "I will be thorough in my investigation."

No comments: