Interesting story about 11th Circuit Judge William Pryor's views on abortion and judging:
Federal appeals Judge William H. Pryor Jr., whose fierce opposition to abortion prompted a two-year fight over his Senate confirmation, said Wednesday that "it'd certainly be wrong for a Catholic lawyer or judge to do something to advance a grave evil like abortion."
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Pryor emphasized that as an appeals court judge he would uphold abortion laws. "The law does not empower you to stop someone else from doing evil," he said. Upholding a law "does not make you a formal cooperator with the evil act."
"Uphold[ing] abortion laws"? I assume that he means he would recognize the right to an abortion, not that he would uphold laws prohibiting abortion.
I suppose that Pryor should be applauded for his candor and be given the benefit of the doubt on his view of judging. Obviously, the issue of "uphold[ing] abortion laws" is not a black or white issue. Most of the abortion statutes that are challenged these days are not outright bans on abortion, but rather restrictions on the right to an abortion. Pryor might well be able to vote to uphold a restriction on abortion (say, some kind of waiting period, or a requirement to view an ultrasound, etc.) while saying (plausibly) that he is upholding the right to abortion.
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