Wyoming Pro-Life Advocates Support Bush Nominee for Federal Court

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Mar 20, 2007   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Wyoming Pro-Life Advocates Support Bush Nominee for Federal Court Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 20
, 2007

Cheyenne, WY (LifeNews.com) — President Bush has nominated Richard Honaker, a longtime pro-life attorney from Rock Springs, to serve as a federal judge in Wyoming. Honaker would fill the seat vacated by U.S. District Judge Clarence Brimmer, who is retiring and taking on senior status.

Honaker, a former state legislator, was instrumental in proposing the Human Life Protect Act in the state legislature in 1991 and was behind the subsequent state ballot vote in 1994. Voters defeated the ballot measure that year.

Sens. Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi, both Republican, say they support Honaker’s nomination and will urge their colleagues in the Senate to support him because he would be a judge who wouldn’t legislate from the bench.

Right to Life of Wyoming President Steven Ertelt said his group supports the Honaker nomination as well and for the same reasons.

"The nomination of Richard Honaker is consistent with the kind of judges President Bush has appointed the to federal courts in the past. He’s someone who will uphold the rule of law and not engage in political advocacy from the bench," Ertelt said.

"Because of his pro-life views and past efforts to protect human life, it’s obvious that Richard Honaker joins with attorneys on both side of the abortion debate who understand that Roe v. Wade was an example of unadulterated judicial activism and that the role of the courts to is interpret the law — not make it up as you go," Ertelt added.

Ertelt said his group would ask its 9,500 statewide supporters to call Thomas and Enzi and thank them for supporting the Honaker nomination.

Thomas submitted Honaker’s name to the president in January and Bush appointed him after a thorough review.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has yet to set a date for a debate and vote on the nomination.