File #: Res 1199-2005    Version: * Name: US Senate to reject the nomination of Harriet Miers an Associate Justice to the Supreme Court.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on State and Federal Legislation
On agenda: 10/11/2005
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the United States Senate to reject the nomination of Harriet Miers an Associate Justice to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Sponsors: David Yassky, Charles Barron, Gale A. Brewer, Letitia James, Annabel Palma
Council Member Sponsors: 5

Res. No. 1199

 

Resolution calling upon the United States Senate to reject the nomination of Harriet Miers an Associate Justice to the Supreme Court of the United States.

 

By Council Members Yassky, Barron, Brewer, James and  Palma

                     

                     Whereas, On July 1, 2005, Sandra Day O’Connor announced her retirement as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States after 24 terms of service; and

Whereas, After the death of Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and the appointment of John Roberts to that position, President George W. Bush announced on October 3, 2005, that he had selected Harriet Miers to replace Justice O’Connor on the Supreme Court; and

Whereas, Harriet Miers currently serves as White House counsel and according to an article appearing in the October 4, 2005 issue of The New York Times, has worked with President Bush for more than 10 years in solely non-judicial capacities; and

Whereas, It remains to be seen where Ms. Miers stands on virtually every issue that could have a profound impact upon the lives of millions of Americans, since she     has no experience as a judge, no record of decisions and no paper trail that would aid in weighing her judicial philosophy and legal background to determine her impact on the Court; and

Whereas, The National Organization for Women (NOW) has expressed concern regarding the total lack of information on this nominee, stating that it “urges the Senate to ask tough questions, insist on answers, and refuse to confirm this nomination unless they can establish that Miers supports the fundamental rights of women”; and

Whereas, Although she has never taken a public position on abortion, ABC World News Tonight reported that she is listed as a “bronze donor” for donation to a Texas pro-life group in 1989; and 

Whereas, Additionally, an article appearing in the October 4, 2005 issue of The New York Times reports that Ms. Miers, as president of the State Bar of Texas, led an effort to roll back the American Bar Association’s support for abortion rights; and

Whereas, A Supreme Court Justice is appointed for a lifetime term, and the Senate should not confirm someone to this powerful and influential position with so little information; now, therefore, be it 

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Senate to reject the nomination of Harriet Miers an Associate Justice to the Supreme Court of the United States.

 

 

 

 

 

 

LS #3546

JP 10/04/05