(CNSNews.com) - During the first day of confirmation hearings Tuesday for Sen. Jeff Session (R-Ala.) as U.S. attorney general, Sessions said he would “respect” and “follow” Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, although he still thinks it’s “one of the worst colossally erroneous Supreme Court decisions of all time.”
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) questioned Sessions on his past comments regarding legalized abortion, saying, “You have referred to Roe v. Wade as ‘one of the worst colossally erroneous Supreme Court decisions of all time.’ Is that still your view?”
“It is. I believe it violated the Constitution and really attempted to set policy and not follow law. It is the law of the land. It has been so established and settled for quite a long time, and it deserves respect, and I would respect it and follow it,” Sessions responded.
Feinstein also asked him if he agreed with President-elect Donald Trump, who said that same-sex marriage is settled law.
“The Supreme Court has ruled on that. The dissents dissented vigorously, but it was 5 to 4, and 5 justices on the Supreme Court, the majority of the court has established the definition of marriage for the entire United States of America, and I will follow that decision,” Sessions responded.
“Here’s another question: If you believe same-sex marriage is settled law, but a woman’s right to choose is not, what is the difference?” Feinstein asked.
“Well I haven’t said that the woman’s right to choose or the Roe v. Wade and its progeny is not the law of the land or not clear today, so I would follow that law,” Sessions said.