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Roberts discusses abortion with panel; Democrats want more detailed answers Supreme Court nominee calls Roe v. Wade ‘precedent, ’ Constitution provides right to privacy The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee John Roberts jousted with Democratic senators Tuesday at his confirmation hearing to be chief justice, dodging their attempts to pin down his opinions on abortion, voting rights and other legal issues. Roberts said he felt the landmark 1973 ruling legalizing abortion was settled as a precedent and that the Constitution provides a right to privacy. Questioned by the lone woman on the panel, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Roberts referred to the settled expectations” of society three decades after the abortion decision. But when senators pressed for details on his opinions — even to the point of interrupting his answers — Roberts said repeatedly that he shouldn’t address some issues that could come before the Supreme Court with him as chief justice. At one point, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., who has indicated he I ' may run for president in 2008, accused Roberts of “filibustering.” “Go ahead and continue not to answer,” said Biden. Later, he interrupted Roberts and when criticized, insisted, “His answers are misleading, with all due respect.” “Wait a minute! Wait a minute! They may be misleading but they are his answers,” said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., the Judiciary Committee chairman. “His answers are misleading, with all due respect.” SEN. JOE BIDEN D-Delawnre Roberts — who had noted that Biden earlier would have heard an entire answer if he hadn’t interrupted — kept his cool. Senators questioned President Bush’s choice to succeed the late William H. Rehnquist on abortion, privacy, voting rights and the balance of power between the branches of government. Roberts frequently answered through the prism of legal precedent but declined to address specifics. The heart of the abortion ruling is “settled as a precedent of the court, entitled to respect under principles of stare decisis,” the concept that long established rulings should be given extra weight, Roberts said. Still, review and revisions have been the hallmark of the high court on issues from integration to gay rights, and Roberts indicated that groundbreaking cases can draw a second look. If confirmed, the 50-year-old Roberts would be the youngest chief justice in 200 years, with the power to shape the high court for decades. Democrats and Republicans see no major obstacles to his winning Senate approval and joining the other justices when the new term begins Oct. 3. The nominee dismissed any suggestion that his Catholic faith would influence his decisions if he were confirmed, bringing the number of Catholics on the court to a historic high of four. The Roman Catholic Church strongly opposes abortion. .... Charles uharapak / I he Associated i*ress With a chart of abortion decisions in the background, Chief Justice nominee John Roberts testifies luesday on Capitol Hill at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. — ■ - PUSSS^^r accelerate your life. C200S. Paid for by the U.S. Navy. All rights reserved.