Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 24, 1990 TAG: 9007240287
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
A big plus for him is the strong backing of widely respected Sen. Warren Rudman, R-N.H., who helped bring Souter to President Bush's attention and lavished praise on his longtime friend throughout the Capitol.
"To know him is to be enormously impressed," Rudman told reporters in the Senate radio-TV studio shortly after Bush's announcement.
Overhearing Rudman's remarks, Sen. Howard H. Metzenbaum, D-Ohio, a liberal who would be likely to lead any attack against a conservative nominee, stepped to the microphones and said, "This senator has heard nothing negative. I have certainly heard he has a very strong positive record."
Sen. Dennis DeConcini, D-Ariz., a moderate who has been a swing vote on previous Supreme Court nominations, said that Souter "appears to be very, very capable" and probably is headed for confirmation.
Influential conservative Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, also said that he liked Souter's credentials and, like Metzenbaum, was impressed with Rudman's glowing endorsement.
"I have confidence that the president made an excellent choice," he said.
Nevertheless, Hatch and others said that they knew very little about Souter's record and views, especially on issues such as abortion.
Several Democrats and Republicans said that they expected the Senate Judiciary Committee to be more penetrating than it has been in the past in seeking to determine the views of court nominees.
"This is a pivotal appointment," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. "I don't think there have been many times since the New Deal that the president has had an opportunity to shape the Supreme Court like he has now."
Groups on both sides of the abortion issue said that they knew little about Souter's views on the subject. Several abortion rights leaders demanded that senators press him hard at confirmation hearings.
"It would be a terrible injustice to confirm any nominee without knowing he is committed to protecting fundamental civil rights, including the right to choose" an abortion, said Kate Michelman, head of the National Abortion Rights Action League. "A nominee cannot be allowed to duck this issue."
Joseph Scheidler, head of the Pro-Life Action League, said that "we're trying to find out stuff about" Souter. "We've been calling people all over. I don't even have enough suspicion to be nervous. I'm kind of in shock."
However, at least one conservative group knew enough to be pleased. "President Bush has taken the first step in repairing the split between himself and the conservatives, his most important constituency," said Richard Viguerie, chairman of United Conservatives of America.
Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, D-Maine, served notice that the Senate would take a close look, but promised "a prompt and fair process." He called Souter "a respected member of the U.S. Court of Appeals" and noted that his prior service as New Hampshire's attorney general and as a member of that state's Supreme Court "provides valuable legal experience."
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph Biden Jr., D-Del., reserved comment. But several committee members said they expected hearings on the nomination to begin as soon as Congress returns from its August recess shortly after Labor Day.
"I don't know of any senator who wants to delay the nominee for the sake of delay," Leahy said.
Like nearly every other member of the Judiciary Committee, Hatch had no recollection of Souter passing through the committee en route to being approved for the appeals court last spring. But in the clubby atmosphere of the Senate, what could count most in Souter's favor is Rudman's personal endorsement.
"I have a great deal of confidence in Sen. Rudman," Hatch said. "He talked about (Souter's) academic credentials and said he was a good person and a good lawyer. I was impressed with what he said."
Several liberal Democrats said they would seek Souter's views on abortion, civil rights and First Amendment issues.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said, "The Judiciary Committee and the full Senate have a responsibility to determine whether he possesses a strong commitment to the fundamental values of the Constitution and Bill of Rights that . . . will profoundly affect the lives and rights of all Americans."
by CNB