The National Association of Women Lawyers ("NAWL"), Committee for the Evaluation of Supreme Court Nominees, has conducted an initial investigation of Judge John G. Roberts, Jr., concerning his view of laws and decisions that involve women's rights and which have a substantial impact on women. The results of the initial investigation were discussed in the Committee's statements of August 30 and September 1 (available at www.nawl.org), and raised concerns about the impact of Judge Roberts's judicial philosophy in three broad areas essential to women's rights: (1) the use of state and federal power, (2) laws that have a substantial impact on women and (3) federal laws intended to protect against discrimination based on sex. On the basis of its initial review, the NAWL Committee last week submitted questions to the Senate Judiciary Committee and also sent copies of its questions to Judge Roberts and the White House. The questions were designed to be used in the hearings on Judge Roberts's nomination for Associate Justice in order to elicit more current and more focused information about Judge Roberts's judicial philosophy and his approaches to women's rights.

Judge Roberts has now been nominated by the President to be Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Judge Roberts's nomination for the position of Chief Justice reinforces the importance of the Senate asking and Judge Roberts answering the questions that NAWL has submitted, in order for the Senate to gain a full understanding of Judge Roberts's views with respect to the role of federal courts in ensuring equality of treatment for women and protecting women's rights.

The National Association of Women Lawyers is the leading national voluntary organization devoted to the interests of women lawyers and women's rights. Founded over 100 years ago, NAWL has members in all 50 states and engages in a variety of programs and activities to advance its mission. The Committee for the Evaluation of Supreme Court Nominees reviews and evaluates the qualifications of each Presidential nominee to the United States Supreme Court with an emphasis on laws and decisions regarding women's rights or that have a special impact on women. Members of the Committee are appointed by the President of NAWL and include a distinguished array of law professors, appellate practitioners and lawyers concentrating in litigation, with diverse backgrounds from around the country and who work in a variety of professional settings.