Roberts document battle continues, advocacy groups clash over TV ads News
Roberts document battle continues, advocacy groups clash over TV ads

[JURIST] New documents on the legal career of US Supreme Court nominee John Roberts [JURIST news archive] are expected to be released Thursday by the National Archives and the Ronald Reagan presidential library, but Senate Democrats are continuing calls [JURIST report] for even more material to be made available for scrutiny in advance of Roberts' confirmation hearing next month. At issue are documents relating to Roberts' work in the Solicitor General's office [JURIST report] during George H.W. Bush's presidency. Last week, the Department of Justice denied a request [JURIST report] to turn over such information, citing privilege. US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said [JURIST report] releasing such information would be "detrimental to the operation of the office." Reuters has more.

Meanwhile, an advertisement from a pro-choice group opposing Roberts has drawn criticism from a non-partisan media watchdog and even from some other pro-choice groups. The advertisement [recorded video, NARAL press release], sponsored by NARAL Pro-Choice America [advocacy website], discusses Roberts' work advocating the government's position that a law designed to protect freed slaves from the Ku Klux Klan did not apply to abortion clinic protests. Factcheck.org has declared the ad to be "false" [Factcheck.org analysis], using "especially misleading" images. Other pro-choice groups expressed concern about the ad, including one group leader that says the ad "goes over the line" and urged NARAL to pull it. Progress for America [advocacy website], a conservative group is preparing rebuttal ads [recorded video]. Thursday's New York Times has more.