In the Agora: Roberts' Wife: Feminist Pro-Lifer

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July 21, 2005

Roberts' Wife: Feminist Pro-Lifer

Here's an interesting tidbit about John Roberts I found buried in a Washignton Times profile:

But Judge Roberts considers his faith "a private matter," said Shannen Coffin, former deputy assistant attorney general during Mr. Bush's first term.

"He is not going to approach the law as a Roman Catholic, nor as a white male," Mr. Coffin said. "John is a practicing Catholic but like most Catholics, he doesn't wear his faith on his sleeve. He is a man of deep and personal faith, but he'd also say he'd like to leave it at that."

Judge Roberts' wife, Jane Sullivan Roberts, also is an attorney. From 1995 to 1999, she was an executive vice president for Feminists for Life, a 33-year-old pro-life group based in the District. She still serves as legal counsel for the FFL board.

"She's a brilliant attorney and we're very proud of her service to Feminists for Life," FFL President Serrin Foster said. "She's smart. There's a very Kennedyesque feeling when you look at them and their kids."

Of course spouses often disagree on such things, but this could offer some insight into Roberts' own social views.

Posted by Joshua Claybourn at July 21, 2005 10:12 AM

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There's a more expansive piece on Roberts's wife in the LAT this morning.

Posted by: Balta at July 21, 2005 12:40 PM | permalink

Yup. That LA Times piece made the front page of the hard edition. I blogged it this morning. Absurd...

Posted by: Rick Brady at July 21, 2005 03:09 PM | permalink

Well Rick, I think the prime thought going through most people's minds right now is trying to determine his views on abortion. This, along with his brief as Deputy Solicitor General, are the best indication we have (admittedly this isn't much), so I certainly think it's worthy of the attention it received from the LA Times.

Posted by: Joshua Claybourn at July 21, 2005 03:12 PM | permalink

His wife's views should not be an issue, much less on the front page of the LA Times. The article is a huge stretch. We argue in Independent Sources (http://independentsources.com/2005/07/21/wife-of-nominee-holds-strong-antiabortion-views-la-times/) that the paper is wrong to make Jane Sullivan Roberts' views an issue -- and the Feminists For Life group the paper wants to be anti-abortion extremists do not fit that characterization at all. Bad, biased journalism.

Posted by: A Senior Administration Official at July 21, 2005 04:01 PM | permalink

Feminists for Life is basically not that different from any other pro-life group around. They claim that what they want to do is recognize and correct those things that cause women to choose abortion. Following a few links like their "topics". Shows that claim to be nothing but a smokescreen. Out of their topics only two really follow that path, the rest are just the exact same things arguments you'd find on any other pro-life web site. Yes, I'd say it's a safe bet that Roberts' views match his wife. Bush wouldn't have chosen him otherwise.

Posted by: Jim S at July 21, 2005 09:01 PM | permalink

I've so far seen quite a bit of moonbat barking about his wife's views. Other than exciting them, I'm not sure I see how his wife's views on anything could be relevant to his confirmation.

YMMV, of course.

Posted by: C. Bond at July 22, 2005 05:34 PM | permalink

Jim S, I think we've been reading different websites.

Posted by: Crystal Lake at July 30, 2005 10:42 PM | permalink

July 21, 2005

Roberts' Wife: Feminist Pro-Lifer

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