News

Log Cabin opposes William Pryor nomination

June 9, 2003

(WASHINGTON, DC) – The Log Cabin Republicans announced today that they oppose the nomination of Alabama Attorney General William Pryor to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th circuit. Pryor will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

"An analysis of Mr. Pryor's work finds compelling evidence that he would be a jurist incapable of fair-minded review of matters of concern to gay and lesbian Americans," said Log Cabin Republican Executive Director Patrick Guerriero.

Of particular concern are Pryor's legal arguments offered in an amicus brief on behalf of the state of Alabama in the Texas sodomy case that is currently before the United States Supreme Court. Pryor forcefully defended the laws that allow for the government to invade the homes of Americans and arrest law-abiding citizens for private and consensual acts of intimacy.

Log Cabin, and its sister organization the Liberty Education Forum, authored an opposing amicus brief that called for an overturn of these laws. "These laws are un-American and strike a blow to the basic right of privacy for American citizens, gays and lesbians in particular," added Guerrieo.

"We call on members of the Senate Judiciary, Democrats and Republicans, to address Mr. Pryor's record on civil rights for gay and lesbian Americans. And we continue to urge the Bush Administration to select open minded and fair jurists to be placed on the federal bench. We believe that Mr. Pryor does not meet that criteria," concluded Guerriero.