Priscilla Owen has voted against a woman's right to choose in every abortion-related opinion. Owen is often referred to as an Enron or Halliburton appointee who, as a justice on the Texas Supreme Court, consistently ruled for business and against consumers and women's rights, and tried to weaken discrimination protections in employment.

The Owen vote showed that Democrats had enough votes to filibuster her. But under a deal struck by 14 Senators to defeat, for now, the so-called "nuclear option" to eliminate the use of filibusters against judicial
nominees, Owen was given a pass.

Although the deal leaves open the possibility that the filibuster could be used in "extraordinary circumstances," will saving women's lives, women's rights, and civil rights ever be considered such an extraordinary circumstance? If the record of Priscilla Owen and two other anti-women's rights, anti-civil rights nominees who will not be filibustered under the deal are to be the standard, then these rights are in grave peril.

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