President Bush Nominates Harriet Miers for Supreme Court Position 
Email this article
Printer friendly page
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 3, 2005
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — President Bush on Monday nominated longtime friend and supporter and White House counsel Harriet Miers to replace outgoing pro-abortion Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Like recently confirmed Chief Justice John Robbers, Miers has no judicial history on abortion, but the president promised she would uphold the rule of law and not legislate from the bench.
Miers, who has never been a judge, would become the third woman to serve on the nation’s high court.
"This morning, I’m proud to announce that I’m nominating Harriet Ellen Miers to serve as associate justice of the Supreme Court," Bush said, in a morning press conference with Miers.
Hoping to counteract criticism that she has not been a judge before, Bush noted that former Chief Justice William Rehnquist had not been one either nor had Byron White, nominated by former President John F. Kennedy. Both Rehnquist and White were the two dissenters in the Roe v. Wade case that ushered in an era of 44 millions abortions.
Miers took over as the top White House counsel when Alberto Gonzales became Attorney General. She was the first woman to head a major Texas law firm and the first to head up the ABA in Dallas and in Texas.
"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," Bush said.
He assured pro-life advocates concerned about how she would rule on abortion that 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," the president concluded.
In remarks made after Bush’s introduction, Miers 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."
