Harriet Miers speaks after President Bush announced, Monday Oct. 3, 2005, that his White House counsel Harriet Miers, the first women president of the Texas State Bar and Bushs former personal attorney, is his choice to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day OConnor. Bush made the announcement in the Oval Office in the White House.
Supreme Court Justice Take Two
By Neicie Green, 10.20.05
Oct. 3, 2005 was a busy day in the nation’s capital. The Supreme Court was back in session. John G. Roberts Jr. was sworn in as chief justice of the United States. Harriet Miers was nominated to replace retiring justice, Sandra Day O’Connor.
President Bush said in a formal announcement, “I considered a wide variety of distinguished Americans from different walks of life…One person stood out as exceptionally well-suited to sit on the highest court of our nation.”
Miers willingly accepted the nomination.
“I’ve always had a great respect and admiration for the genius that inspired our Constitution and our system of government,” Miers said in a press conference. “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.”
Miers was born in Dallas and received a bachelors and law degree from Southern Methodist University. She has dedicated the past 30 years to public service.
She served on the Dallas City Council and was chair of the Texas Lottery Commission. Miers was the first female president of the Dallas Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas.
Her connection with Bush dates back to 1993 when she was general counsel during his gubernatorial campaign. During the Bush administration she has held positions as White House staff secretary, deputy chief of staff, and domestic policy advisor. Since February 2005 she served as White House Counsel.
Miers’ lack of experience as a judge, causes Democrats and Republicans to suggest that Bush ought to withdraw the nomination.
But the president stands behind his choice.
“I’ve known Harriet for more than a decade,” Bush said during a press conference. “I know her heart, I know her character. I’m confident that Harriet Miers will add to the wisdom and character of our judiciary when she is confirmed as the 110th justice of the Supreme Court.”
However, bureaucrats are asking for more than the President’s word concerning Miers’ judicial potential. Democrats and Republicans agree on one thing – no one knows her views on abortion, gay rights, and other matters.
Democratic Senator Joseph Biden and Republican Senator Charles Hagel shared their views in a segment on the Oct. 16 episode of CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
“I'm waiting to find out more about the woman. I know virtually nothing about her,” Biden said. “We all have a right to know where she stands on these basic issues.”
Hagel agreed. “I know very little about Harriet Miers. She's an accomplished professional. A lot of people are strongly supporting her. But there's a big black hole out there on [her] judicial philosophy” Hagel said.
“The fact is we want an elite group of individuals [on the court]. I'm not so sure I want my next-door neighbor, as much as I like him or her, to be on the Supreme Court because they're nice people,” Hagel said.
Miers’ Senate confirmation hearings could begin as early as November. If confirmed, she could assume the position of associate justice as early as December.
