Bush Nominates Miers to Replace O'Connor on High Court
By Dave Andrusko
When pro-life President George W. Bush introduced Harriet Miers to the American people as his nominee to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, little was known about her other than that she has been the President's White House Counsel since 2003 and that she is intensely loyal to the President. In the days that followed, a fuller picture began to emerge.
"To begin with, Ms. Miers "will strictly interpret our Constitution and laws," Mr. Bush promised. "She will not legislate from the bench."
"At her October 3 introduction, Miers added, "It is the responsibility of every generation to be true to the founders' vision of the proper role of the courts in our society. 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."
"There is also now a fair amount known about Miers in the context of the abortion issue.
"Between 1990 and 1992, the influential American Bar Association (ABA) zigged and zagged on abortion three times, going from pro-abortion, to neutrality, and back to pro-abortion again in 1992. Miers worked against adoption of the pro-abortion position and then, while president of the Texas State Bar in 1993, urged the ABA to conduct a referendum of its full membership.
"It was Miers' position that the ABA should be neutral on abortion, and questioned whether the group should "be trying to speak for the entire legal community" on an issue that she said "has brought on tremendous divisiveness" within the organization. Texas's proposal was rejected by the ABA policymaking body.
"In addition, Miers donated $150 to Texans United for Life and attends (according to the Seattle Times) an "anti-abortion" church.
"Miers was the first woman elected president of the Texas Bar, just as she was the first woman to be elected president of the Dallas Bar Association. When then-Governor Bush was looking for someone of impeccable integrity and credentials to clean up the scandal-plagued Texas Lottery Commission, he turned to Miers.
"Although she has not served as a judge, Miers is not lacking in legal credentials. In addition to her positions as head of judicial associations, Ms. Miers was named one of the nation's 100 most powerful attorneys on numerous occasions by the National Law Journal as well as one of the 50 top woman attorneys.
"Miers is by reputation a shy workaholic who is deeply devoted to her 93-year-old mother, her siblings, and her siblings' children. Stories in many publications, including the Washington Post, paint a picture of a well-regarded litigator who once clerked for a federal district judge, a Bush loyalist who "has earned respect across the political spectrum for fairness and especially for diligence," and a "bridge builder."
"Miers has worked for Mr. Bush for years, beginning as an attorney for his gubernatorial transition team in Texas. When Mr. Bush was elected President, she came to Washington as White House staff secretary. Later she was promoted to deputy chief of staff for policy, and when Alberto Gonzales became Attorney General, assumed the post of White House Counsel.
"Two African Americans who served with Miers on the Dallas City Council told the Post that Miers was tough but fair. Al Lipscomb, described as still influential at age 80, said Miers knew the law "like a Baptist preacher knows the Bible." According to the Post, he described Miers as "part silk, part steel."
"Look at how meek she looks, like Little Miss Milquetoast, so meek and humble with that ready smile," Lipscomb told the Post. "But if you got in there unprepared, I'm telling you ... ."