Priscilla Owen

According to the Traditional Values Coalition, Priscilla Owen was a "nominee to the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit Court. Priscilla Owen is currently a Justice on the Supreme Court in Texas. She has been nominated for a position designated as a judicial emergency by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.

"Texans for Public Justice claim that Owen received contributions from Enron and then gave a favorable ruling in Enron Corp. v. Spring I.S.D. in 1996. The truth is that all court justices, Democrats and Republicans alike, signed a unanimous Supreme Court ruling which relied on two previous U.S. Supreme Court cases in the Enron case. Owen received $8,600 from Enron out of $134,058 all members of the Supreme Court received. It is legal for Justices running for office to take campaign contributions.

"Texans for Public Justice also claim that she will rule in favor of groups that contribute to her election campaign. Owen has publicly stated that she supports a constitutional amendment that will change how judges are elected in Texas. She supports a plan whereby judges will run in a non-partisan manner."

"Justice Priscilla Owen is a member of the Houston Chapter of the Federalist Society. She is considered to be on 'the far right wing' of the Texas court. In one case, concerning a state law relating to the ability of minors to obtain an abortion without parental consent, then-Texas Supreme Court Justice Alberto R. Gonzalez, now chief White House counsel, warned that adopting the position of the dissenters, including Owen, 'would be an unconscionable act of judicial activism.' In September 2002, the Senate Judiciary Committee rejected Owen's nomination." 

For further information on Priscilla Owen:


 * See 19-page Report on Priscilla Owen by C. Boyden Gray posted on the Traditional Values Coalition web site.
 * See U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Policy file on Priscilla Owen.