Harriet Miers' Abortion Record Raises Concerns on Supreme Court Nomination

Strategic Insights -

Harriet Miers, nominated by President Bush to fill the Supreme Court seat of retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, has a complex history on abortion rights that has sparked concerns among activists across the political spectrum. As the first female president of the Texas state bar, Miers led a movement in 1992 to put the abortion issue to a referendum of all American Bar Association members, suggesting she may be a critic of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 abortion decision. Despite her conservative reputation, Miers' record reveals hints of a more nuanced and pragmatic approach to the issue.

Key Takeaways:

  • Miers, as ABA president, proposed a referendum on the organization's abortion stance, revealing her potential opposition to Roe v. Wade.
  • In 1992, Miers told the Washington Times that if the ABA were to take a position on abortion, "the members should have been able to vote" on the issue.
  • As an attorney, Miers has spoken out in favor of the Bush administration's education legislation and antiterrorism policies, but has no significant record on broader issues such as the environment, gay rights, or civil rights.
  • Miers associations with moderate positions, such as endorsing an International Criminal Court and lifting bans on adoptions by homosexuals, suggest a more inclusive approach to social issues.
  • Despite conservative claims that Miers is a staunch supporter of Bush's agenda, her record reveals a willingness to compromise and engage in pragmatic decision-making.
  • As a city councilor, Miers cast a deciding vote to raise local property taxes to fund library and arts programs, indicating a commitment to social welfare.
  • Miers' donations to Democratic campaigns, including $1,000 to Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen in 1987, and $1,000 each to the Democratic National Committee and Tennessee Senator Al Gore's 1988 presidential bid, suggest her previous ties to centrist politics.

Statistics:

  • Miers, 60, has been a respected corporate attorney with a long career, but has virtually no public record detailing her judicial views.
  • Miers has spoken out in favor of the Bush administration's policies, but has no significant record on broader issues such as the environment, gay rights, separation of church and state, or civil rights.
  • Miers has donated exclusively to Republican campaigns since 1989, but previously donated to several Democratic campaigns, including $1,000 to Lloyd Bentsen in 1987 and $1,000 each to the Democratic National Committee and Al Gore's 1988 presidential bid.

Sources:

  • The Boston Globe
  • The Washington Times
  • The Associated Press
  • A 1992 Texas Bar Journal interview
  • A September 1990 Dallas Times Herald article
  • A 1989 memo to supporters from Leonard Leo, executive vice president of the Federalist Society
  • A phone interview with Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht