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| For Immediate Release | |
| Dec 20, 2000 | Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
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Selection Of Texas Supreme Court Justice Al Gonzalez Bears On New Administration’s Commitment to Right To Life (Washington, DC) Judicial Watch today said that President-Elect George W. Bush’s selection of Al Gonzalez to serve as White House Counsel provides the American public with new information about the commitment by George W. Bush to the “Right to Life.” On March 10, 2000, Texas Supreme Court Justice Al Gonzalez voted with the majority in granting a 17-year-old girl permission to have an abortion without telling her parents. The Texas Supreme Court decision overturned two previous lower court decisions in Harris County, Texas courts. The Texas law requiring parental notification for abortions for girls under 18 took effect January 1, 2000. Girls can “bypass” the law by proving in a confidential court proceeding that they possess the maturity and knowledge sufficient to decide to abort their child, or that notifying their parents would be “harmful.” The girl had testified that, “If I were to have the child, my parents [would] be slightly upset to actually know I became pregnant and they are very against abortion.” She said she opposes adoption and having the baby “would be holding me back from my future, what I want to become.” The Gonzalez appointment follows last week’s nomination of pro-abortion Colin Powell as Secretary of State and Vice President-Elect Cheney’s announcement that the new administration will not send any proposed legislation outlawing partial birth abortion to the 107th Congress. It is also likely known that Christine Todd Whitman will be selected for a Bush Cabinet position. Ms. Whitman is chiefly known for her vociferous support of abortion rights, especially partial-birth abortion. “A qualification for high government service ought to be a commitment to right to life of all Americans – born and unborn. Mr. Bush’s appointment of his friend, Mr. Gonzalez, to White House Counsel is a disturbing signal to all those Americans concerned with protecting the rights of the unborn and of parents. Pro-abortion extremism won’t stop anyone from getting a job in the Bush Administration,” stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. |
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