The Honorable Priscilla Owen

Some Facts from JCN:

--- The President has nominated Justice Owen to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

--- Justice Owen has served on the Texas Supreme Court since 1994 and was most recently reelected by 84 percent of the voters of Texas. She was endorsed for reelection by every major Texas newspaper.

--- Justice Owen had a distinguished private practice as a law firm partner in commercial litigation for 17 years.

--- Justice Owen received her undergraduate degree from Baylor University and graduated third in her class from Baylor Law School in 1977. She attained the highest score in the state when she took the Texas Bar Exam in 1977.

--- The American Bar Association unanimously rated Justice Owen "well qualified," its highest possible rating. Justice Owen is the first nominee considered "well qualified" by the ABA to be denied a floor vote.

--- Justice Owen has served as liaison to the Texas Supreme Court's Mediation Task Force and to statewide committees on providing legal services to the poor and pro bono legal services.

--- She was part of a committee that successfully encouraged the Texas Legislature to enact legislation that has resulted in millions of dollars per year in additional funds for providers of legal services to the poor.

--- She organized a group known as Family Law 2000, which warns parents about the difficulties children face when parents go through a divorce and teaches parents how to address those difficulties and how to make the divorce process as painless as possible for children.

--- Justice Owen has significant bipartisan support, including three former Democrat justices on the Texas Supreme Court and a bipartisan group of 15 past Presidents of the State Bar of Texas.

--- Democrat former Texas Secretary of State, former Attorney General and former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Hill says of her: "President Bush honored impeccable integrity, character, and scholarship when he nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit a leading voice for reform in the Texas judiciary: Priscilla Owen. ... her approach to judicial decision-making is restrained, that her opinions are fair and well reasoned, and that her integrity is beyond reproach." (John L. Hill, "Struck Gold," National Review, 7/23/02)

--- Raul Gonzalez, former Democrat Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas, said: "I found her to be apolitical, extremely bright, diligent in her work, and of the highest integrity. I recommend her for confirmation without reservation." (Letter to Sen. Leahy, 7/19/02)