The extensive damage done to Americans' rights and liberties during John Ashcroft's tenure as Attorney General makes your senators' duty to confirm a qualified replacement all the more important. Under Ashcroft's watch, civil liberties have been systematically attacked and eroded, enforcement of our nation's civil-rights laws has been neglected, and disdain for judicial review and public accountability have become standard practice.[1]

The next Attorney General confirmed by the Senate has much to do. Given his role in a number of Bush administration attacks on civil and human rights, Alberto Gonzales, President Bush's top legal counsel, is a troubling choice.

Ask your senators to take a stand for truth. Tell them to personally take Gonzales to task for his dangerous legal opinions.

When hearings on his nomination begin in January, Gonzales' fitness to be our next Attorney General must be judged on his entire record, including:

� His advocacy for evading prohibitions on torture. As White House Counsel, Gonzales has argued that, in the war in Afghanistan, the United States is not bound by the Geneva Conventions' prohibition on torture and other inhumane treatment. He has further advised President Bush to reject warnings from U.S. military leaders that this radical policy will undermine respect for the law in the military and put American soldiers at greater risk of torture if they are captured overseas.

� His support for shredding core constitutional rights of U.S. citizens. Gonzales played a central role in crafting and defending the Bush administration's policy of detaining "enemy combatants," including U.S. citizens, without charges, counsel or judicial review. Gonzales arrogantly asserted that the President's authority to take these actions was not constrained by the rule of law. The Supreme Court rejected Gonzales' argument by an 8-1 majority.

� His carelessly inadequate advice to then-Governor Bush on clemency in death-penalty cases. Published reviews of the clemency briefs that Gonzales prepared for Bush in Texas expose a disturbing pattern of omitting key facts with life-or-death consequences. Gonzales frequently failed to include important information about ineffective counsel, conflicts of interest, mitigating evidence and even evidence of innocence. In all 57 cases in which Gonzales prepared a brief, Gov. Bush ordered the executions carried out.

In addition to answering questions about his record, senators must demand that Gonzales address his plans to continue or end Ashcroft's harmful policies, including implementation and review of the USA PATRIOT Act.

Stand for the truth - don't let Gonzales' record be sanitized during his hearings. We know all too well the record John Ashcroft is leaving behind, but this doesn't excuse senators from asking tough questions about the justice Americans would get under Gonzales.

Contact your senators now to remind them that their duty to the Constitution and to conscience requires a full examination of Gonzales' disturbing civil and human rights record.

[1] See PFAW's reports on Ashcroft's tenure as Attorney General

Read more about Alberto Gonzales' record at our online resource center.

PFAW � 2004

~~~

Rumors are flying that President Bush is ready to elevate extreme far-right Justice Antonin Scalia to Chief Justice should current Chief Justice William Rehnquist retire.

Justice Scalia is out of step with the American people and is one of the Court's most virulent opponents of a woman's right to choose. More than 60% of Americans think that Bush should nominate justices who support Roe v. Wade. If Bush chooses Scalia, he would widen the already gaping political divide in our country.

NARAL Pro-Choice America is trying to stop this nomination before it's even announced. It's going to be difficult to win this fight against Scalia in the Senate - with your help, we can keep this nomination from ever coming to a Senate vote.

Here's what we need you to do today:

1. Urge President Bush to nominate a moderate for Chief Justice. Nominating a moderate would save the country from a divisive and destructive fight.

2. Ask Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to stand firm against any attempt to elevate Scalia to Chief Justice. On December 5, Reid stated that he could support Justice Scalia's nomination. Help us send messages to Reid urging that he oppose any change in Scalia's role on the Court.

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