Mark Warner on Roe v. Wade and the Supreme Court

Democratic Senate candidate Mark R. Warner, who supports abortion rights, said over the weekend he would be open to voting to confirm a justice to the Supreme Court who is on record as opposing the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion rights.

When asked the question after his debate with Republican candidate James S. Gilmore III, Warner said he would have "no single litmus test issue" when it comes to deciding in the Senate who gets to sit on the Supreme Court.

"I don't think there should be any single litmus test issue, but I do believe that my reading of the constitution is that there is a right to privacy, and I would look at the potential judge's or justice's overall record," Warner said.

Warner then added he believes the Roe v. Wade decision was decided on the question of the right to privacy."That would be part of the consideration," Warner said. But a potential justice's view on that issue in itself may not be enough to disqualify him or her from the bench.