Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on a pro-abortion nominee President Barack Obama has put forward for Deputy Attorney General. The panel is expected to give David Ogden the okay even though pro-life groups opposed him because of his pro-abortion views.

As LifeNews.com has reported, Ogden has come under fire for denying the physical and mental health problems that plague women who have abortions.

Ogden wrote and filed an amicus brief on behalf of the American Psychological Association for the Supreme Court's seminal decision in Casey v. Planned Parenthood.

In it, Ogden argued, "Abortion rarely causes or exacerbates psychological or emotional problems. When women do experience regret, depression, or guilt, such feelings are mild and diminish rapidly without adversely affecting general functioning."

Ogden has gone further by arguing against parental notification and saying, because "there is no qualitative ... difference between minors ... and adults," there is no reason for the parents of a young girl to know if she is having an abortion.

During the hearing, pro-life Sen. John Kyl, an Arizona Republican, challenged Ogden on those pro-abortion views, calling them "very left leaning and unorthodox positions."

Ogden defended his views saying he is "quite proud of his record" but adding that he was serving the interests of private clients at the time.

Ogden claimed he would "put the interests of the United States and the rule of law above any other" consideration.

Prior to the hearing, pro-life groups voiced storng opposition to the Obama nominee.

Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, told LifeNews.com, "Ogden has built a career on representing views and companies that most Americans find repulsive."

"In his career he has argued against parents being notified that their 14-year old girl had an abortion," he complained. "Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Mr. Ogden has argued that women who have had abortions suffer no detrimental consequences."

Colleen Parro, the head of the Republican National Committee for Life, was also urging a no vote on the Ogden nomination.

"Ogden is well-known for his radically pro-abortion position," she told LifeNews.com. "In fact, David Ogden is so pro-abortion that he began his career as a law clerk to Justice Harry Blackmun, the Supreme Court Justice who wrote the majority opinion in Roe v. Wade."

She also urged pro-life people to tell members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to vote no.

"Your pro-life Senators want you to weigh in on this issue," she said.

"They need encouragement from their constituents to vote against these radical Obama nominees. Senate liberals are trying to push these nominees through at warp speed so that their controversial pasts fly under the radar," Parro added.

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