SCOTUS NOMINEE'S WIFE ATTRACTING INTEREST

While the apparant honeymoon continues over President Bush's nominee for the United States Supreme Court, John G. Roberts, Jr., his wife's activities are attracting much attention among those groups active in the debate over abortion.

The New York Times reports this morning that Jane Sullivan Roberts, a Roman Catholic attorney from the Bronx, has been doing pro bono work for an anti-choice group known as Feminists For Life. The story says that according to the organization's president, Serrin Foster, Mrs. Roberts sought them out about a decade ago and offered her services as a lawyer.

Mrs. Roberts served on the board of the organization for four years, and later provided legal services. Ms. Foster said that as an adoptive parent, Mrs. Roberts made contributions that included urging the group to focus more on the needs of biological mothers, and adding a biological mother to the board of directors.

Ms. Foster said Feminists for Life was committed not only to ending abortion, but also to making it "unthinkable" by providing every woman with the assistance she needs. Reversing Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that recognized a constitutional right to abortion, is a goal, she said, "but not enough."

Senator Edward Kennedy (D - MA) was quoted at a Friday breakfast meeting with reporters that Mrs. Roberts' work "ought to be out of bounds."