McCain criticizes high court's rape ruling

INDIANAPOLIS, July 1 (UPI) -- John McCain, the likely GOP presidential candidate, criticized the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday for overturning the death penalty for a child rapist.

"(Five) justices decided the people's judgment didn't take into account 'evolving standards of decency,' and so they substituted their judgment" in the 5-4 decision overturning the Louisiana case, the Arizona Republican said in a speech at the National Sheriff's Association conference in Indianapolis. "It's a peculiar kind of moral evolution that disregards the democratic process, and inures solely to the benefit of child rapists."

He also took a swipe at his presumptive Democratic challenger, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. While noting Obama "to his credit" expressed disagreement with the decision, the Arizona Republican said, "My opponent may not care for this particular decision, but it was exactly the kind of opinion we could expect from an Obama court."

If elected president, McCain pledged to nominate judges with a "proven commitment to judicial restraint."

McCain also spoke the accomplishment law enforcement officials at the state and federal level have achieved "when consistent principles are applied and both parties work together."

Federal and state law enforcement have their areas of concern and a president's leadership is essential, he said.

"But nowhere is the influence of a president more critical to law enforcement than in the power of judicial nominations," McCain said.