Harriet Miers Submits Questionnaire
Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers has submitted her questionnaire.
In 1989, she pledged support for the Human Life Amendment.
The abortion issue hangs over Miers' nomination much as it did over the appointment of Chief Justice John Roberts earlier this year. The situations are different, however — Roberts replaced the late William Rehnquist, who voted to overturn the 1973 abortion ruling. Miers would succeed retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has voted to uphold it.
"A candidate taking a political position in the course of a campaign is different from the role of a judge making a ruling in the judicial process." said Jim Dyke, a White House spokesman.
In interviews with Senators, she has denied telling anyone how she would vote on Roe v. Wade.
"She said nobody knows my views on Roe v. Wade. Nobody can speak for me on Roe v. Wade," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., on Monday, referring to the case that guaranteed women's constitutional right to an abortion, setting a legal precedent that abortion foes have been trying to overturn ever since.
In the questionnaire that she turned in the Judiciary Committee, Miers answered "no" to questions asking whether anyone during the nomination process discussed specific cases or legal issues with her to get an assurance on her positions. She also answered "no" to whether she told anyone how she might rule if confirmed.
Will this appease the radical right, engender opposition from the Left, or both? My view: Anyone Bush nominates is going to be pro-life. He won the election, he gets to pick, within reason. There is zero chance he will pick someone who is pro-choice. We still don't know that Miers will vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. I'm not willing to make abortion the sole litmus test. There are a lot of other important issues the Supreme Court rules on. I want to know more, and I think we will when her hearings begin.
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