Obama: No litmus tests on abortion for Supreme Court pick

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said today he will not insist that his Supreme Court nominee pass any "litmus tests" over supporting abortion rights, but made clear he will choose a candidate who will consider personal privacy and women's rights when ruling on cases.

"That's going to be something that's very important to me," Obama said in response to a question about a woman's right to choose.

"I think part of what our constitutional values promote is the notion that individuals have protection in their privacy, and their bodily integrity, and women are not exempt from that," Obama said.

The president noted that the debate over abortion rights has long divided the country, and he chose a response that did not box him in. At the same time, Obama underscored his belief in a right to privacy.

The president is in the midst of considering a nominee to succeed the retiring Justice John Paul Stevens, who will leave the high court this summer.