• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Miers Pushed Legal 'Self-Determination'

Posted on: Wednesday, 26 October 2005, 09:00 CDT

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers has argued self-determination should direct sensitive legal questions such as abortion.

Speaking in 1993 to a women's group in Dallas, Miers said touchy issues in the legal system suggest self-determination makes sense, The Washington Post reported after analyzing speech texts Miers turned over to the Senate Judicial Committee.

Conservatives have voiced concern about Miers and whether President Bush had selected a true conservative to fill the Supreme Court position of retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. The Post's disclosure of the self-determination philosophy -- that outside influences should not play a part in some decisions -- did not enhance the nominee's position with Bush's key constituency.

Liberty Counsel President Mathew Staver told the newspaper: I think it shows that she is a judicial activist. This concept of self-determination could clearly be read in support of things like abortion or same-sex marriages and it's a philosophy that cuts a judge loose from the Constitution.

U.S. Senate hearings for Miers' nomination to the Supreme Court are set to begin Nov. 7.

Source: United Press International

More News in this Category