Miers Withdraws Supreme Court Nomination
POSTED: 8:55 am EDT October 27, 2005
UPDATED: 10:10 am EDT October 27, 2005
WASHINGTON -- Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers has withdrawn her nomination.
Miers had faced stiff opposition and mounting criticism about her qualifications.
President George W. Bush said he reluctantly accepts her decision to withdraw, after weeks of insisting that he did not want her to step down. He blamed her withdrawal on calls in the Senate for the release of internal White House documents that the administration has insisted were protected by executive privilege. Bush has been insisting for weeks that he did not want her to pull out.
In a letter to Bush, Miers thanked him for his support and wrote, "I am concerned that the confirmation process presents a burden for the White House and our staff that is not in the best interests of the country."
A U.S. Senate panel was set to begin hearings on Miers' nomination on Nov. 7.
She's a former president of the State Bar of Texas and the Dallas Bar Association.
The Texan has been pounded by conservatives for her lack of judicial experience and thin public record on constitutional matters.
Miers will keep her current job as White House counsel.
Lott Glad Miers Is Out
A conservative Republican senator who'd had some concerns about Miers said she made the "right decision" in withdrawing her nomination to the Supreme Court.
Trent Lott, of Mississippi, said that his objections to Miers weren't based on her philosophy, but were about her qualifications and her competence.
He said he thinks the issue of executive privilege -- and whether the White House should release records of conversations between Miers and Bush -- was a "serious concern" about Miers. He said he's heard that she's "very loyal" to Bush as his White House counsel, and concerned about protecting his right of confidentiality.
Bush's Statement
Bush's statement about Miers withdrawing her nomination to the Supreme Court Thursday, as released by the White House:
Today, I have reluctantly accepted Harriet Miers decision to withdraw her nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States.
I nominated Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court because of her extraordinary legal experience, her character, and her conservative judicial philosophy. Throughout her career, she has gained the respect and admiration of her fellow attorneys. She has earned a reputation for fairness and total integrity. She has been a leader and a pioneer in the American legal profession. She has worked in important positions in state and local government and in the bar. And for the last five years, she has served with distinction and honor in critical positions in the Executive Branch.
I understand and share her concern, however, about the current state of the Supreme Court confirmation process. It is clear that senators would not be satisfied until they gained access to internal documents concerning advice provided during her tenure at the White House disclosures that would undermine a president's ability to receive candid counsel. Harriet Miers' decision demonstrates her deep respect for this essential aspect of the constitutional separation of powers and confirms my deep respect and admiration for her.
I am grateful for Harriet Miers' friendship and devotion to our country. And I am honored that she will continue to serve our nation as White House Counsel.
My responsibility to fill this vacancy remains. I will do so in a timely manner.
Your thoughts? I personally want a woman and preferably an ethnic minority b/c the Supreme court should represent the population and right now it doesn't; makes me 
Miers Withdraws Supreme Court Nomination
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