Miers withdraws as nominee for U.S Supreme Court

CBC News: Miers withdraws as nominee for U.S Supreme Court

Controversial U.S. Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers has withdrawn her nomination after weeks of criticism over her qualifications for the role.

Miers said in a statement her nomination “would create a burden for the White House and our staff that is not in the best interest of the country.”

President George W. Bush has “reluctantly” accepted her letter of withdrawal, White House officials said.

Miers, who most recently served as Bush’s White House counsel, was nominated less than a month ago to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

But she has been widely criticized since her nomination, notably by some conservatives who said she lacked the necessary legal credentials and a record of conservative judicial philosophy on issues such as abortion and affirmative action.

Others accused Bush of cronyism.

I hope that the new nominee is a higly qualified jurist, someone like John Roberts. The Supreme Court deserves the very best judicial minds that we have. Personally, I will risk their political views, if they bring superior judicial abilities.

For example, take Anthony Scalia, who is, by all accounts, a brilliant jurist. He voted in the minority on the landmark Edwards v. Aguillard “creation science” case in 1987. Scalia voted and opined against the one issue that is my hottest button. Nonetheless, he brings a great legal mind to the bench. And that’s what is required. People on any side of any issue must accept that any President will nominate a person whose political views accord with his own; but we all should demand that such nominees be of the highest caliber.

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