White House Presses Case On Miers
Six Former Texas Supreme Court Jurists Join Bush In Support Of Miers
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Play CBS Video Video Miers Unclear On Abortion A controversy is growing over reports that private assurances have been given to conservatives that Miers will attempt to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Gloria Borger reports.
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Video Bush Comments On Miers CBS News RAW: President Bush met with a group of six former Texas Supreme Court members and thanked them for endorsing Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers.
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Video Administration Promotes Miers Web Exclusive: Susan Roberts reports that President Bush has invited two former Texas Supreme Court judges to the White House to show their support for his Supreme Court nominee.
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Harriet Miers with President Bush, after he announced her nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court, Oct. 3, 2005. (AP)
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Harriet Miers presides over a meeting of the Texas Lottery Commission in this photo from Jan. 7, 1997, in Austin, Texas. (AP)
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Interactive Harriet Miers With Miers out of the running, what's next in President Bush's search to fill a vacancy on the nation's highest court?
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Interactive The Supreme Court History, traditions and key cases, plus what it takes to get on the bench.
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Interactive Bush Presidency The president's agenda, plus facts, figures, major events and key personalities.
"I think this is an excellent choice by the president of the United States and I think when people get to know her and understand her like we do they'll find her an excellent choice. And she'll be a legend on that court before her career is finished," said one of the Texans, Craig Enoch.
The photo op with the former jurists was part of a new effort by the White House to counter criticism that Miers lacks the qualifications for the high court.
"Harriet Miers is a uniquely qualified person to serve on the bench. She is smart, she is capable, she is a pioneer," Mr. Bush said after meeting with the Texas judges. "She's been consistently ranked as one of the top 50 women lawyers in the United States. She has been a leader in the legal profession. She's impressed these folks. They know her well. They know that she'll bring excellence to the bench."
Meanwhile, Miers arranged personal meetings during the day with Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York and Dianne Feinstein of California. Both are members of the Judiciary Committee, which will hold hearings and take the first vote on the nomination.
"You can't have a campaign for a nominee for Supreme Court based on whispers and winks," Schumer said. "You can't say that 'Oh, people close to her say one thing,' then don't want to say it publicly."
CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger reports that Democrats made it clear Monday that they intend to ask very specific questions about abortion and her judicial philosophy when she testifies early next month (video).
Senate Republicans hope to begin confirmation hearings on Miers the week of November 7, officials said Monday.
Officials in both parties said Republicans have proposed a schedule for Miers' confirmation process that calls for a vote in the full Senate before Thanksgiving. It was not clear whether Democrats would agree or seek changes.
The two parties haggled at length earlier this year over a confirmation timetable for John Roberts, eventually confirmed as chief justice.
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