To me, the topic of Pro-Life and the Right to Life Movement are near and dear subjects.  As a child growing up in the Washington, D.C area, it was my distinct privilege to be a participant in the Right to Life March that has occurred every January since 1973.  All through high school I and my family and friends showed our support for the Pro-Life Movement by braving the cold frigid weather in our nations capital.  I have since moved, and have been unable to participate in the Right to Life March for many years now, but, my sentiments continue to be with supporting the cause, and protecting the lives of our unborn children. 

When I consider the question of what does it mean to be Pro-Life, I reflect upon my life experiences.  In so doing, I have always felt that the Supreme Court panel that decided Roe versus Wade back in 1973 made a mistake, and essentially ducked the most important question posed by that case...that is when does life begin.  If you read that Court's opinion, you will find that no where in the opinion do the justices attempt to answer this question.  I believe this was because to do so would have required a different decision on the part of the court.  The simple answer is that life begins at  conception.  Of this I have no doubt.  I draw that conclusion because in my experiences, I have seen ultrasounds, and stillborn children.  I've had to occasion to see children born prematurely.  What those experiences leave me with is undeniable proof  that all life begins at the moment of conception.  If that is true, and I certainly believe that it is, then we must preserve and protect life from conception to the death.  This  is a moral obligation incumbent upon us all.  To do any less diminishes us as people, and diminishes the value of life itself.     To call oneself Pro-Life then means that one recognizes the unborn child as a living human being, and it means that one recognizes the aged and dying as valuable members of our society worthy of respect. 

So when I say that I am Pro-life, I mean that I value life from conception to death.  I believe that we must protect our children and our elderly, and we must preserve life at all stages.  Life is the greatest gift we have been given by God, it should be cherished, shared, and not taken for granted.  That's what I mean when I say I am Pro-life. 

Roe v. Wade, unfortunately for us all is still considered "good law" in the context of allowing the atrocity of abortion to occur.  How that effects a sitting judge, is that a sitting judge must apply the laws of the country.  This does not mean however, that judges are powerless to do something about the law.  Judges, as well as all of us do have a responsibilty to follow the law.  In the same vein though, we all have a right, and an obligation to seek changes to existing law, to correct bad law, and to improve upon the laws.  This is where it is imperative that we all exercise our First Amendment Rights to Free Speech.  I believe as a judge, I will be called upon to fairly apply the law, and this I will do.  At the same time, I will continue to advocate for an end to abortion, which is the moral high road to take.