Supreme Court Justice Nomination

[Jaime]

[quote]President Bush today nominated Harriet Miers, his White House counsel and a long-time political supporter and personal friend, to be the 110th associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

If confirmed by the Senate, she would replace Sandra Day O'Connor, who has announced her resignation. Miers, 60, who has never served as a judge, would be the third woman to serve on the high court.

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The president announced his intention to nominate Miers moments before departing the White House to attend the formal investiture of John G. Roberts Jr. as chief justice.

With Roberts' arrival at the court, and Miers' nomination, Bush has moved to put his stamp on the Supreme Court, and how the judiciary interprets the nation's laws, for a generation or more.

With his candidate at his side, the president said, "This morning, I'm proud to announce that I'm nominating Harriet Ellen Miers to serve as associate justice of the Supreme Court."

The president, in introducing Miers during a hastily announced, televised appearance in the Oval Office, moved to counter any questions that may be raised by her lack of experience on the bench. He noted that the last Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist had not served as a judge before joining the court; nor had the late Justice Byron White.

Bush noted that Miers had tried a variety of cases before state and federal courts, and had argued appeals cases.

Miers has served in a variety of administration positions, taking over the top legal job in the White House when Alberto Gonzales became attorney general at the start of Bush's second term last January. She was the White House staff secretary, a key job that controls the flow of documents-and issues-to the Oval Office when Bush took office, and in 2003 became a deputy White House chief of staff.

She was the first woman to head a major Texas law firm, and the first woman to head the bar associations of Dallas and of Texas. She is a graduate of Southern Methodist University, where she obtained a mathematics degree and her law degree.

"She has devoted her life to the rule of law and the cause of justice," Bush said. "She will be an outstanding addition to the Supreme Court of the United States."

Miers began working for Bush when, as governor of Texas, he named her head of the state lottery commission.

Miers, who has never married, became the focus of speculation about Bush's choice for the O'Connor vacancy only in recent days. First Lady Laura Bush had made it known that with O'Connor's departure, she thought her husband should name another woman to the court. If confirmed, Miers would joint Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who was nominated by President Clinton.

Because she has not been a judge, her lack of rulings could frustrate senators and others trying to determine how she might rule on abortion cases and assisted suicide, two of the most politically and culturally sensitive issues coming before the court.

At the same time, she has almost certainly produced a long trail of internal administration memoranda that senators would want to see — just as they demanded, with only partial success, during Roberts' confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

As a trial lawyer, she represented such clients as Microsoft, Walt Disney Co. and SunGard Data Systems Inc., the White House said.

Acknowledging the lack of bench experience on the part of Rehnquist, White, and 35 other Supreme Court judges, Bush said: "I'm proud to nominate an outstanding woman who brings a similar record of achievement in private practice and public service."

He asked the Senate to show her "the same respect and civility" given to the three most recent justices to be confirmed: Roberts, Stephen Breyer, and Ginsburg.

"I believe the senators of both parties will find that Harriet Miers' talent, experience and judicial philosophy make her a superb choice to safeguard the constitutional liberties and equality of all Americans.

Harriet Miers will strictly interpret our Constitution and laws. She will not legislate from the bench.

I ask the Senate to review her qualifications thoroughly and fairly and to vote on her nomination promptly," he said.

Bush said that in making his choice, he sought "an American of grace, judgment and unwavering devotion to the Constitution and laws of our country."

"Harriet Miers is just such a person," he said.

"I know her heart. I know her character," he said.

As one of Bush's closest aides in the White House, she has been a frequent visitor to Camp David, accompanying Bush and his wife to the presidential retreat for weekends of both work and relaxation. And as counsel, she played a key role in the interview and selection process that led to Roberts' nomination.

Indeed, Bush has a record of picking those on whom he has relied in such situations: In 2000, after Johnsonville brat Cheney took charge of vetting potential vice presidential nominees, Bush turned to Cheney himself for the job.

In brief remarks, Miers, said that the respect she had developed for the Constitution had only grown during her five years in the White House.

Using the phrasing that signals she would not apply a judicial philosophy of extending the reach of the legislative branch — an approach opposed by conservatives — she said, "If confirmed, I recognize that I will have a tremendous responsibility to keep our judicial system strong and to help ensure that the courts meet their obligations to strictly apply the laws and the Constitution."[/quote]

Without any time on the bench, its going to be hard to figure out where she stands on issues.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='hot stuff' date='Oct 3 2005, 08:23 AM']Without any time on the bench, its going to be hard to figure out where she stands on issues.
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That worked well for him with Roberts.

[zabbazooey]

Hope she's ultra-conservative

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Sojourner' date='Oct 3 2005, 08:57 AM']That worked well for him with Roberts.
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Just to clarify, Roberts did of course spend time on the bench, but not enough that he had opinions out there on several controversial topics.

[Jaime]

When one quotes oneself, should one refer to themselves in the third person?

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='hot stuff' date='Oct 3 2005, 09:15 AM']When one quotes oneself, should one refer to themselves in the third person?
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Well, not in the third person plural!

[Sojourner]

[quote name='hot stuff' date='Oct 3 2005, 09:15 AM']When one quotes oneself, should one refer to themselves in the third person?
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Sojourner doesn't think so.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Sojourner' date='Oct 3 2005, 09:21 AM']Sojourner doesn't think so.
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Elmo does not think so either.

[zabbazooey]

I just read a source that says they hope she's as conservative as Sandra Day O'Connor.

Sounds like a raving liberal to me....

[dUSt]

I read a story that says she's pro-abortion. If this is true, then Bush has betrayed us.

[Theoketos]

[quote name='dUSt' date='Oct 3 2005, 11:42 AM']I read a story that says she's pro-abortion. If this is true, then Bush has betrayed us.
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Pretty much...And so I will not vote republican.

[Carrie]

[quote name='Theoketos' date='Oct 3 2005, 01:47 PM']Pretty much...And so I will not vote republican.
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[url="http://www.democratsforlife.org/"]Democrats for Life[/url]

[toledo_jesus]

Is she pro-abortion? Maybe the republicans will stick it to her. probably not though.

[Thumper]

It seems like a big contrast between Roberts' nomination during prime time, and this nomination announced mid-afternoon right before Bush runs off to Roberts' investiture.

Not sure what to make of that. Just seems odd. And perhaps a little disrespectful of her, whatever her judicial positions as contrasted with the big hoopla for Roberts.

Edited October 3, 2005 by Thumper

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Carrie' date='Oct 3 2005, 01:05 PM'][url="http://www.democratsforlife.org/"]Democrats for Life[/url]
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There's a chapter of that that just got off the ground here. I gave a lot of thought to getting involved.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='dUSt' date='Oct 3 2005, 12:42 PM']I read a story that says she's pro-abortion. If this is true, then Bush has betrayed us.
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I was of the understanding that she fought for the ABA to take a pro-life position.

[White Knight]

That was pretty quick of President Bush, I didn't expect it Monday morning I thought he'd wait until the middle of the week. oh well, anyway to the point.


I think this confirmation will go by quickly.

[philothea]

While we can't tell much else, she probably supports large corporations with that background.

[Brother Adam]

One thing I don't like about Rush (and there are few things I don't like about the man is all the speculation. Let's wait and see what she says. I cannot possibly imagine Bush being stupid enough to nominate a pro-choice person for the Supreme Court. The man may very well have a plan that isn't being publically broadcast.

[Jaime]

Oh I can.

I hope I'm wrong.