BTL:Progressive Groups Fear Radical Right Supreme Court Shift if Alito Confirmed

Progressive Groups Fear Radical Right Supreme Court Shift if Alito Confirmed

Interview with Marjorie Cohn, professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, conducted by Scott Harris

The withdrawal of Harriet Miers, President Bush's first nominee to fill the Supreme Court seat being vacated by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, demonstrated the power of Bush's Christian conservative base, who were very unhappy with his choice. Well-organized and campaigning hard for a Supreme Court nominee in the mold of Justices Antonin Scalia or Clarence Thomas, the movement was elated with President Bush's second choice, Samuel Alitio. Alito, a judge serving 15 years on the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia, has been nicknamed by some, "Scalia-Lite" or "Scalito" for his judicial kinship with Justice Scalia.

But, progressive groups concerned about the balance of a new post-O'Connor Court, are alarmed by Alito's opposition to reproductive rights, including his 1991 decision supporting a Pennsylvania law requiring women to notify their spouses when seeking an abortion. Progressive groups are also troubled by Alito's record on race and sex discrimination, corporate power, police abuse, civil liberties and gun control.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Marjorie Cohn, professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law and president-elect of the National Lawyers Guild. She discusses how Judge Alito, if confirmed, could radically alter U.S. law on a wide range of issues, and the prospects of a Democratic filibuster in the Senate.

Contact the National Lawyers Guild at (212) 627-2656 or visit their website at http://www.nlg.org

Related links:

People for the American Way: (202) 467-4999 or at http://www.pfaw.org NOW at (202) 628-8669 or at http://www.now.org

LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below:
http://www.btlonline.org
*
"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org
*
"Between the Lines," WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising months of April and October).
*
For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Weekly Summary" which features a RealAudio link to the week's program for Between The Lines, send an email to btlsummary-subscribe [at] lists.riseup.net
*
For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Q&A" which features a RealAudio link and weekly transcript to one of the interviews featured on Between The Lines, send an email to btlqa-subscribe [at] lists.riseup.net
*
betweenthelines [at] snet.net
*
http://www.squeakywheel.net/
*
Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions
©2005 Between The Lines. All Rights Reserved.