Demos have hearings plan

WASHINGTON – Democrats plan to use confirmation hearings to question John Roberts about his pledge to follow established legal rulings, saying his record as a government lawyer creates doubts about his commitment to privacy rights, particularly abortion, if he gets a seat on the Supreme Court.

Roberts’ response to a Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire about “judicial activism” provides some hope but “also raises many questions,” said New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer, one of eight Democrats on the committee that will begin considering Roberts’ nomination Sept. 6.

“That’s why the hearings will be so crucial to determining whether Judge Roberts will rule from the bench in a careful and non-ideological way, or will instead choose to make law or impose his will,” Schumer said.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican on the panel, said it would be inappropriate for Roberts to discuss specific cases such as the Roe v. Wade abortion ruling, particularly since the high court will hear a case next fall on the constitutionality of a New Hampshire parental notification law.

“Justices are not politicians,” Cornyn said.

“They don’t run on a political platform, and senators should not ask them to do so.”