Press Release
Congressman John Conyers, Jr.
Michigan, 14th District
Ranking Member, U.S. House Judiciary Committee
Dean, Congressional Black Caucus
www.house.gov/judiciary_democrats/index.html
For Immediate Release:
Conyers Requests More on Supreme Court Nominee Harriet Miers:
"The Senate's duty to advise and consent must not
be a leap of faith"
Today, Congressman John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement
in response to President Bush's decision to name White House Counsel Harriet Miers to be associate justice of the U.S.
Supreme Court:
"Today we have learned that President Bush has named a lawyer who has never been a judge to replace Sandra Day O'Connor
and help reshape our nation's judiciary. Despite the media saturation and clever promotional campaign, what do we really
know about Harriet Miers? While the Senate confirmed Judge Roberts to fill Chief Justice William Rehnquist's open seat
on the Supreme Court with virtually no background information on the former Judge, the Senate's obligation is even
greater now to exercise its independent judgment and inquire about the judicial record of the latest nominee.
"Prior to today's announcement, Miers has not been a public figure. Her paper trail largely consists of documents she
wrote as White House Counsel to the current Bush administration and as a private attorney working for President Bush
during his term as the Governor of Texas. However, given her lengthy career with President Bush, the only way to be
certain that she will be a fair and partial justice, and not a "stealth candidate", is to have full and complete access
to documents that will enlighten us on her beliefs on important political issues, and her qualifications for the
position.
"The Supreme Court can overrule a mistaken decision by a Court of Appeals, but Supreme Court decisions are final. Their
judgements immediately become the law of the land and remain binding precedent unless changed later by the Court,
itself. Given her lack of experience as a judge at any level, the Senate will need to take ample time to inquire about
Miers legal background, her ability to take on the task of associate justice of the Supreme Court, and her views on the
many important issues that shape our country. The Senate's duty to advise and consent must not be a leap of faith."
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