Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, the nation’s leading legal voice for reproductive rights, tonight issued the following statement in response to the nomination of John G. Roberts to the Supreme Court:

"We are alarmed that the President, in nominating John G. Roberts to the nation’s highest court, has chosen someone who in his legal career has advocated for the reversal of Roe v. Wade. That position, had it been accepted by the Supreme Court, would have risked the health and safety and taken away the constitutional right of millions of women.

Deeply troubling is the brief Roberts co-authored in Rust v. Sullivan. Even though Roe was not at issue in this case, he wrote "we continue to believe that Roe was wrongly decided and should be overruled…" Judge Roberts needs to explain if that is not, in fact, his view, why he was willing to put the lives of American women in jeopardy.

We have consistently called for a Senate hearing process that is fair and responsible. Now it is more important than ever that we have a fair and full exploration of Justice Roberts’ views on Constitutional protections and the right to privacy, including Roe v. Wade."

Nancy Northup is available to do interviews this evening and can provide detailed information on the background of John G. Roberts. To schedule an interview, please call Dionne Scott (917) 637-3649.