Nomination of Judge Bork

The nomination of Judge Robert Bork for the Supreme Court seat vacated by Justice Lewis Powell places in jeopardy much of the progress made in this century on civil rights and civil liberties issues. Bork would shield the government from judicial scrutiny and would reverse the increasingly democratic trend of the courts to allow all citizens, not just the wealthy and powerful, access to justice. He is an advocate of executive power at the expense of the authority of the other branches of government.

Bork was chosen by President Ronald Reagan and Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III as an agent to implement their political agenda--an agenda that they have so far been unsuccessful in implementing through Congress or the Supreme Court.

Bork’s case decisions and articles show that he would be a judicial activist in turning back the clock on more than five decades of settled constitutional law.

The Senate has an equal role in approving the nomination of Bork and it is representative of the diversity of this country and of the American people.

The Senate has the responsibility to decide whether Bork’s view of the Constitution is an appropriate one to take this country into the 21st Century. A careful examination of Bork’s case decisions and writings clearly point to the fact that his addition to the Supreme Court would reverse over 50 years of progress in civil rights and individual liberties.

JOEL D. MANDEL

Chatsworth