People for the American Way (PFAW):

Not only do Justice Owen’s rulings show her willingness to shape the law in her own mold; they also define an ideological agenda that threatens many of the rights citizens in the Fifth Circuit now take for granted.

The Houston Chronicle in a July, 2002 editorial:

Owen, a justice on the Texas Supreme Court, just happens to be a very, very conservative judicial activist who appears willing to attempt to twist the law to fit her very, very conservative political views. Which means, of course, that she is Bush's dream of a federal judge.

Perhaps it's not too early to note that when Owen first ran for the state Supreme Court in 1994 her campaign consultant was Karl Rove, who is now White House political supremo and Bush's envoy to the far right. Is this picture becoming clearer?

It doesn't take a raving pinko to catch on to Owen's act. Actually, it was pointed out very astutely by Alberto R. Gonzales, now Bush's White House counsel, when he was on the state's top civil court with her.

In dissents and concurrences in abortion cases two years ago, Owen said everything except that the U.S. Supreme Court majority in Roe v. Wade should be shot at dawn. She sought to contort the state court's already conservative interpretation of the parental notification provision to make it even more, well, conservative.

The New York Times:

Justice Owen's views are so far from the mainstream that, on those grounds alone, the Senate should be reluctant to confirm her. But what is particularly disturbing about her approach to judging is, as Mr. Gonzales has identified, her willingness to ignore the text and intent of laws that stand in her way....

Justice Owen has also shown a disturbing lack of sensitivity to judicial ethics. She has raised large amounts of campaign contributions from corporations and law firms, and then declined to recuse herself when those contributors have had cases before her. And as a judicial candidate, she publicly endorsed a pro-business political action committee that was raising money to influence the rulings of the Texas Supreme Court....

Justice Owen is a choice that makes sense for Justice Department ideologues who want to turn the courts into a champion of big business, insurance companies and the religious right. But the American people deserve better. Justice Owen's nomination should be rejected.

Keep the pressure on the Senate--Priscilla Owen does not belong on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Send President Bush a message--skip the far right ideologues if you want your nominees confirmed.