Miers: Tough-minded – and a Bush confidante

WASHINGTON – Harriet Miers, President George W Bush’s choice for the Supreme Court, is a White House insider with decades of legal experience, but her views on key issues likely to come before the court are largely unknown.

Miers (60) provided legal advice to Bush for years. She was part of the Texas contingent that Bush brought with him to the White House in 2001 for his first term, and took over as top legal adviser to the president when her predecessor Alberto Gonzales became attorney general in February 2005.”She has devoted her life to the rule of law and the cause of justice,” Bush said as he announced his choice at the White House with Miers standing by his side.”She will be an outstanding addition to the Supreme Court of the United States.”Miers, now behind-the-scenes White House counsel, was picked to replace retiring Sandra Day O’Connor.Miers has never been a judge, nor, with the exception of a stint on the Dallas City Council, does she have the political background in elected office of many non-judges nominated in the past for the high court.Her record is less clear than many other nominees who have a record of court rulings in their past.That could work for her or against her when she undergoes close scrutiny from the US Senate, which must approve her nomination.The lack of judicial experience she has in common with about a third of former high court justices including the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist who had not been a judge before being named to the court by President Richard Nixon.The eight justices currently on the court were all judges.Some Democrats were already indicating an extensive and probing confirmation process in an effort to get a better picture of her beliefs.THIRD WOMAN ON COURT Bush seemed to try to answer any critics by emphasising her legal successes.”Over the course of a distinguished legal career, Harriet has earned the respect and admiration of her fellow attorneys,” he said.Reminding that she will replace O’Connor, the first woman picked for the high court, Bush stressed that as a woman Miers overcame much in her legal career.Miers would be the third woman to serve on the court, joining current Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.”Harriet became a pioneer in the field of law, breaking down barriers to women that remain even after a generation – remain a generation after President Reagan appointed Justice O’Connor to the Supreme Court,” Bush said.As White House counsel, Miers’ role is to advise Bush on legal issues concerning the presidency and the White House.She is known for paying attention to detail, being meticulous and organised.Her office was also responsible for making recommendations about judicial nominations, co-ordinating with other attorneys throughout the administration, and being involved in the clearance process for nominations.During Bush’s first term, Miers was White House deputy chief of staff and staff secretary.She was once his personal lawyer in Texas and in an admiring reference to her tenacity, Bush once described her as a “pit bull in size 6 shoes”.Yet Miers is gracious and warm.A young staffer said Miers once took the time to send an e-mail to tell her, “I think we are lucky to have you.”Miers was chair of the Texas Lottery Commission from 1995 to 2000 while Bush was governor of Texas.Prior to joining the White House, she was co-managing partner at the law firm Locke Liddell & Sapp.She made inroads for women in Texas legal circles – becoming the first woman elected Texas State Bar president in 1992 and the first woman to become president of the Dallas Bar Association in 1985.Miers, a native of Dallas, is single.She received her undergraduate and law degrees from Southern Methodist University in Texas, which is also the alma mater of first lady Laura Bush.- Nampa-ReutersShe was part of the Texas contingent that Bush brought with him to the White House in 2001 for his first term, and took over as top legal adviser to the president when her predecessor Alberto Gonzales became attorney general in February 2005.”She has devoted her life to the rule of law and the cause of justice,” Bush said as he announced his choice at the White House with Miers standing by his side.”She will be an outstanding addition to the Supreme Court of the United States.”Miers, now behind-the-scenes White House counsel, was picked to replace retiring Sandra Day O’Connor.Miers has never been a judge, nor, with the exception of a stint on the Dallas City Council, does she have the political background in elected office of many non-judges nominated in the past for the high court.Her record is less clear than many other nominees who have a record of court rulings in their past.That could work for her or against her when she undergoes close scrutiny from the US Senate, which must approve her nomination.The lack of judicial experience she has in common with about a third of former high court justices including the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist who had not been a judge before being named to the court by President Richard Nixon.The eight justices currently on the court were all judges.Some Democrats were already indicating an extensive and probing confirmation process in an effort to get a better picture of her beliefs.THIRD WOMAN ON COURT Bush seemed to try to answer any critics by emphasising her legal successes.”Over the course of a distinguished legal career, Harriet has earned the respect and admiration of her fellow attorneys,” he said.Reminding that she will replace O’Connor, the first woman picked for the high court, Bush stressed that as a woman Miers overcame much in her legal career.Miers would be the third woman to serve on the court, joining current Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.”Harriet became a pioneer in the field of law, breaking down barriers to women that remain even after a generation – remain a generation after President Reagan appointed Justice O’Connor to the Supreme Court,” Bush said.As White House counsel, Miers’ role is to advise Bush on legal issues concerning the presidency and the White House.She is known for paying attention to detail, being meticulous and organised.Her office was also responsible for making recommendations about judicial nominations, co-ordinating with other attorneys throughout the administration, and being involved in the clearance process for nominations.During Bush’s first term, Miers was White House deputy chief of staff and staff secretary.She was once his personal lawyer in Texas and in an admiring reference to her tenacity, Bush once described her as a “pit bull in size 6 shoes”.Yet Miers is gracious and warm.A young staffer said Miers once took the time to send an e-mail to tell her, “I think we are lucky to have you.”Miers was chair of the Texas Lottery Commission from 1995 to 2000 while Bush was governor of Texas.Prior to joining the White House, she was co-managing partner at the law firm Locke Liddell & Sapp.She made inroads for women in Texas legal circles – becoming the first woman elected Texas State Bar president in 1992 and the first woman to become president of the Dallas Bar Association in 1985.Miers, a native of Dallas, is single.She received her undergraduate and law degrees from Southern Methodist University in Texas, which is also the alma mater of first lady Laura Bush.- Nampa-Reuters