BOB ABERNETHY, anchor: More now on Harriet Miers, the president's nominee to the Supreme Court. She is described as a born-again Christian who opposes abortion. Nevertheless, many people on the religious Right have complained that her views are not well known and that she lacks any experience as a judge.

Tim O'Brien covers the Supreme Court. He's an analyst for Fox News and is also a visiting professor of law at Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

Tim, welcome. What do you make of the emphasis being put in this discussion that's around now on Ms. Miers's religion?

TIM O'BRIEN (Contributing Correspondent): Well, it is curious. You might recall with John Roberts, conservatives said, "Let's not talk about his devotion to the Catholic Church. We do not have a religion test for public officials in this country." Yet it seems the White House is trying to get out the message that as an evangelical Christian, she's on the right page on issues that count to conservatives such as abortion, separation of church and state.

ABERNETHY: And would you expect this question about the influence of her faith, being a born-again evangelical Christian -- would you expect that to come up in the confirmation process?

O'BRIEN: Usually it doesn't, and the fact that somebody is a born-again Christian is hardly a disqualification for the Supreme Court. On the other hand, if her faith is going to play into the decision-making process -- her decision-making process, you can bet that a lot of senators, not just Democrats, will be asking about that.

ABERNETHY: But it doesn't follow necessarily, does it, that just because somebody is against abortion, that person would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade?

O'BRIEN: You're absolutely correct. In fact, part of the job is not to vote your personal views but to vote the Constitution. You could have a justice who's adamantly against abortion still be pro-choice, still think that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided, and still vote not to overrule it. You could have that.