![]() Since joining the court in 1981, replacing Justice Potter Stewart, O'Connor has been at the very center of the court in almost every sense, and has held or helped define the balance of power on many of the issues of broadest concern to the nation, including affirmative action, the death penalty, and religion.īut it was her stance on abortion, and in particular her role in reaffirming Roe vs. Some conservatives have expressed concern about delaying confirmation hearings for too long, out of worry that it would give liberal groups more time to gather ammunition for an attack. ![]() Specter indicated that he would most likely hold confirmation hearings in September, though he did not rule out August, when Congress is scheduled to be in recess. "The nation also deserves a dignified process of confirmation in the United States Senate, characterized by fair treatment, a fair hearing and a fair vote." "The nation deserves, and I will select, a Supreme Court justice that Americans can be proud of," Bush said. With memories still fresh among many conservatives of the Democrats success in blocking the nomination in 1987 of Robert Bork to the court, and with Capitol Hill still embittered over last month's confrontation over the use of filibusters in judicial nominations, Bush effectively put the Democratic leadership on notice not to go to extreme lengths to reject his choice or turn the confirmation proceedings into a partisan free-for-all. O'Connor said she would stay on the bench until her successor arrived. He said his intention was to make a nomination in time for the new justice to be in place for the start of the court's next term in October. In an appearance in the Rose Garden Friday morning a little more than two hours after getting word of O'Connor's resignation, Bush said he would be "deliberate and thorough" in selecting a nominee to replace her. It is still not clear whether Rehnquist, who is battling thyroid cancer, will step down this summer, expanding the confirmation battle to two fronts. Garza, a federal appellate judge in Texas. Among other potential candidates are two Hispanics, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Emilio M. Jones, both of the 5th Circuit based in New Orleans. Should Bush want to choose a women to replace O'Connor, the candidates are likely to include Judge Edith Brown Clement and Judge Edith H. Judge John Roberts, who sits on the appeals court based in Washington and Judge Michael McConnell of the 10th Circuit who sits in Salt Lake City. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond, Va. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the senior Democrat on the judiciary committee.Īmong the names most frequently mentioned as potential nominees are Judges J. Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic minority leader, and Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee, the Republican majority leader, Sen. Also invited to the meeting, Specter said, are Sen.
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