Sununu and Gregg on Miers Nomination
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5- New Hampshire’s Republican senators are taking a wait-and-see approach when it comes to revealing their positions on Harriet Miers, President George W. Bush’s nominee to the Supreme Court.
“I look forward to closely reviewing the record and résumé of the President’s nomination of Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court,” Sen. Judd Gregg said in a statement Tuesday.
“The nomination hearings for now Chief Justice Roberts went smoothly and did not fall to partisan politics, and I would expect that this nominee will be afforded the same civility and respect of a dignified, fair hearing,” Gregg added.
Sen. John Sununu described Miers as “a seasoned attorney with a demonstrated commitment to public service” who “has served the nation at the highest levels of government”
“I look forward to reviewing her credentials and working with my colleagues to ensure that her nomination receives a thorough and fair review,” Sununu said in a statement Tuesday.
To be confirmed, Miers must receive majority approval from the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. If approved by the committee, Miers must then receive majority approval from the whole Senate.
Overall, Americans are less supportive of the nomination of Miers than they were of Roberts’ nomination in July, according to a CNN/USA Today Gallup Poll released Tuesday.
Only 44 percent of Americans felt the Miers nomination was “excellent” or “good,” while 41 percent thought it was “fair” or poor,” the poll revealed. The remaining 15 percent had no opinion.
Of the participants who described themselves as conservative, 58 percent said the Miers nomination was “excellent” or “good.” In a CNN/USA Gallop Poll measuring the public’s opinion of the Roberts nomination, 77 percent of Americans who considered themselves conservative felt the nomination was “excellent” or “good.”
Though they do not have the opportunity to vote on judicial nominations, New Hampshire’s House members also are following the issue closely.
Acknowledging Miers’ lack of judicial experience, Rep. Charles Bass said he believes the Senate will fairly and comprehensively evaluate her.
“Thirty-five justices have served on the Supreme Court who did not have prior bench experience, including the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist,” Bass said in a press release. “I am confident that the Senate will thoroughly review Harriet Miers’ credentials during the confirmation process.”
Rep. Jeb Bradley said he believes “Harriet Miers is an experienced attorney with a long record of public service. Ms. Miers deserves a fair hearing of her credentials, and it is my hope that the Senate will proceed with the confirmation process in a thorough and deliberate manner.”
