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Harriet Miers
Harriet Miers
In office
2004 – 2007
President George W. Bush
Preceded by Alberto Gonzales
Succeeded by Fred F. Fielding
Born August 10, 1945 (1945-08-10) (age 62)
Dallas, Texas
Political party Republican
Profession Lawyer

Harriet Ellan Miers (born August 10, 1945) is an American lawyer, and former White House Counsel. The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. Alberto R Gonzales (born August 4 1955) was the 80th Attorney General of the United States. Fred Fisher Fielding (born March 21, 1939) is an American lawyer and a member of the George W Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States. On January 4, 2007, she submitted her resignation from the position of White House Counsel, effective January 31. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States. [1]

President George W. Bush nominated her on October 3, 2005 for Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States are the members of the Supreme Court of the United States other than the Chief Justice of the United States The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary. Sandra Day O'Connor (born March 26, 1930) is an American Jurist. The nomination was met with opposition from both sides of the political spectrum, and on October 27, President Bush withdrew her nomination, saying Miers had asked him to do so. Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross.

Contents

Early life and education

Miers was born in Dallas, Texas, and spent most of her life there until 2001, when she moved to Washington, D.C. to work in the Bush administration. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The Presidency of George W Bush began on his inauguration on January 20, 2001 as the 43rd and current President of the United States of America She describes herself as a "Texan through and through. " [2] The fourth of five children, she is the daughter of real estate investor Harris Wood Miers, Sr. , and his wife, the former Erma (Sally) Grace Richardson. [3]

Miers entered Southern Methodist University intending to become a teacher. Southern Methodist University ("SMU" is a private, Coeducational University in University Park, Texas (an enclave The economic plight of her family was so dire that she almost dropped out in her freshman year, but she was able to find part-time work that put her through college. Then her father had a debilitating stroke. A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain When a lawyer helped organize her family's financial situation, Miers was inspired to enter law school. [4] Miers graduated from Southern Methodist University with a bachelor's degree in mathematics (1967) and from its Law School with a Juris Doctor degree (1970). A bachelor's degree is usually an Undergraduate Academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three four or in some cases and Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law is a Law school located in Dallas, Texas. Juris Doctor (abbreviated JD or JD, from the Latin, Teacher of Law) is a first professional graduate degree and Professional [5]

Career

In the summer of 1969, between her second and third years of law school, Miers worked as a clerk for Belli, Ashe, Ellison, Choulos & Lieff, the San Francisco law firm founded by "King of Torts", the eccentric attorney, Melvin Belli. Melvin Mouron Belli ( 29 July, 1907, Sonora California &ndash 9 July, 1996 Miers was immersed in tort law. Her supervisor was Robert Lieff, then a partner in the Belli firm and later a founder of the nationally prominent plaintiffs' law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP. In a 2005 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Lieff stated that Miers "saw what we did for people who needed to get a lawyer and were only able to get a lawyer by a contingent fee. " [6].

After graduating from law school, from 1970 to 1972, Miers was a law clerk for the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Joe E. A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a Judge in researching issues before the Court and in writing opinions The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas (N Estes. She was admitted to the bar in Texas 1970, and has not been admitted to the Washington DC bar.

In 1979, after she made partner in her law firm, she became an evangelical Christian after having had a series of long discussions with Nathan Hecht, her close friend and colleague at the firm. Nathan L Hecht (born August 15, 1949) is a Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. [7]

In the late 1990s, while Miers was on the advisory board for Southern Methodist University's law school, she helped create and fund a Women's Studies lecture series named after pioneering Texas lawyer, Louise B. Raggio, who was a mentor to Miers (see [1])[8].

From 1972 until 2001, Miers worked for the Dallas law firm of Locke, Liddell & Sapp (and predecessor firms prior to mergers). She was the first female lawyer hired by the firm, and later became its president. When the merger that created Locke, Liddell & Sapp took place in 1999, she became the co-managing partner of a legal business with more than 400 lawyers. In 2000 the firm settled a lawsuit which accused the firm of having "aided a client in defrauding investors"[9] for $22 million; according to the Class Action Reporter, Miers "said the firm denies liability in connection with its representation of Erxleben. 'Obviously, we evaluated that this was the right time to settle and to resolve this matter and that it was in the best interest of the firm to do so,' Miers said. "[10]

As a commercial litigator, she represented clients including Microsoft and the Walt Disney Company. Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer

In 1986, Miers became the first female president of the Dallas Bar Association. In 1992, Miers became the first woman to head the State Bar of Texas. She has also served as chair of the Board of Editors for the American Bar Association Journal and as the chair of the ABA's "Commission on Multi-Jurisdictional Practice". The American Bar Association ( ABA) founded August 21 1878 is a voluntary Bar association of Lawyers and law students which is not specific

In 1989, Miers was elected to a two-year term as an at-large member of the Dallas City Council. She did not run for reelection in 1991 after a restructure of the city council converted Miers' at-large seat, elected by voters citywide, into a single-district seat.

Miers met George W. Bush in January 1989 at an Austin dinner, an annual affair held for legislators and other important people. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. Nathan Hecht, a mutual friend and Miers' date, made the introduction. Nathan L Hecht (born August 15, 1949) is a Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. Miers subsequently worked as general counsel for Bush's transition team in 1994, when he was first elected Governor of Texas. Governors of Texas She subsequently became Bush's personal lawyer, and worked as a lawyer in his 2000 presidential campaign. The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Democratic candidate Al Gore, then Vice President, and Republican

While head of the State Bar of Texas, Miers joined an unsuccessful effort to have the American Bar Association maintain its then-official position of neutrality on abortion. The American Bar Association ( ABA) founded August 21 1878 is a voluntary Bar association of Lawyers and law students which is not specific The ABA had adopted abortion neutrality at its 1990 annual meeting in Chicago. By the summer of 1994, at its annual meeting in San Francisco, the issue was again pending before the ABA assembly. Miers, who had not been involved in the Chicago meeting, supported ABA abortion neutrality in San Francisco on two grounds. First, the State Bar of Texas was statutorily prohibited from taking positions on political issues. Second, Texas had made bar membership an attorney licensure requirement, thus forcing all Texas attorneys to support financially the ABA's position, regardless of their personal convictions. ABA neutrality on abortion was defeated at the San Francisco meeting. The association has remained supportive of the pro-choice position ever since. Overview See also Ethical aspects of abortion Pro-choice advocates emphasize their beliefs that having a child is a personal choice that affects a woman's body and

Since September 1994, Miers has contributed to the campaigns of various Republicans (at about the same time she began to work for George W. Bush), including Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Phil Gramm, and Pete Sessions, with recorded contributions to Republican candidates and causes totaling nearly $12,000. Kathryn Ann Bailey Hutchison usually known as Kay Bailey Hutchison (born July 22 1943) is the senior United States Senator from William Philip Gramm (born July 8 1942, in Fort Benning, Georgia, USA is an American politician who served as a Democratic Peter Anderson "Pete" Sessions (born March 22, 1955) is a Politician from the state of Texas. Her earlier political history shows support for the Democrats during the 1980s, with recorded contributions to Democratic candidates and causes, including the Democratic National Committee, the Senate campaign of Lloyd Bentsen and the 1988 presidential campaign of Al Gore, totaling $3,000. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. The Democratic National Committee (DNC is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr ( February 11 1921 – May 23 2006) was a four-term United States senator (1971 until 1993 from Texas -->The United States presidential election of 1988 featured an open primary for both major parties Albert Arnold Gore Jr (born March 31 1948 is an American environmental Activist, author Businessperson, former Politician, and former Her last recorded contribution to a Democratic cause or campaign was in 1988. Ed Gillespie said that she was a "conservative Democrat" at the time. Edward W Gillespie is an American Republican Lobbyist, and current White House counsel to George W

Personal life

Miers's mother and two of her brothers still live in Dallas; a third brother lives in Houston, Texas. She also had a sister, Kitty, who is deceased. Miers never married and has no children.

She is a close friend of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman. Secretary of State is a commonly used title for a Government Official. Condoleezza Rice (born November 14 1954 is the 66th United States The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. Ann Margaret Veneman (born June 29, 1949) is currently the Executive Director of UNICEF. Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht has known her for more than 25 years. The Texas Supreme Court is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters (including Juvenile delinquency which the law considers to be a civil matter and not criminal Nathan L Hecht (born August 15, 1949) is a Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. After Miers's nomination to the Supreme Court, Hecht was cited as an unofficial spokesperson representing her views.

Government service

Prior to assuming the position of White House Counsel, Miers had served as White House staff secretary, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy. The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States. The Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary is a position in the Executive Office of the President of the United States, responsible for the communication going to the The White House Chief of Staff is the highest-ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President Before joining the Bush administration, Miers was a lawyer in private practice for 27 years, handling business cases, and acting as then-Governor Bush's personal lawyer. She served as the first female president of both the Dallas Bar Association and later the State Bar of Texas, and also served one term on the Dallas City Council. The Dallas Bar Association or DBA is a Professional organization providing resources for Attorneys and the public in the city of Dallas Texas The State Bar of Texas (the Texas Bar is an agency of the judiciary under the administrative control of the Texas Supreme Court.

In 1995, George W. Bush, then Texas governor, appointed Miers to chair the Texas Lottery Commission. The Texas Lottery is run by the government of Texas. Its most popular game is Mega Millions; its other major game is Lotto Texas. Some have credited Miers with reforming the commission after a previous corruption scandal [11].

Her tenure has also been criticized, however. In 1997, the commission under Miers hired Lawrence Littwin as executive director, but then fired him five months later. At the time, the contract to operate the lottery was held by the politically connected GTech Corporation (see [2]), which had obtained the contract with the help of a former Lieutenant Governor of Texas (Democrat Ben Barnes) [12]. GTECH Corporation, a company based in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Lottomatica S The Lieutenant Governor of Texas is the second-highest executive office in the government of Texas, a state in the United States of America. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Ben Barnes may refer to Ben Barnes (actor, British actor known for his roles as Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian and Littwin, as director, began an investigation into whether GTech had made illegal campaign contributions and whether GTech owed the commission millions of dollars for breaches of its contract. He stated that Miers ordered him to stop the investigation. He brought a lawsuit alleging that he was fired in retaliation for the investigation and to ensure that GTech would keep its contract (see [3]). According to Texans for Public Justice, GTech paid Littwin $300,000 to settle the suit (see [4]).

Miers resigned from the lottery commission in early 2000, a year before her term ended. She said her resignation had nothing to do with lagging sales in the system's biggest game, Lotto Texas, but rather that she wanted to allow her successor time to prepare for rebidding the lottery's primary operator contract.

There was some speculation during Bush's 2000 campaign that Bush would appoint Miers to the position of Attorney General. This was seen as possible with her trusted role as Bush's personal attorney, her many appointments during his tenure as governor. This also recalled William French Smith who was Ronald Reagan's personal attorney before being named Attorney General. William French Smith ( August 26 1917 &ndash October 29 1990) was an American lawyer and the 74th Attorney General of the Miers was not chosen and John Ashcroft became Attorney General instead.

In January 2001, Miers did follow Bush to Washington, D.C., serving as Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary during the first two years of his presidency. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D In that role, she opposed the administration's 2001 decision to stop cooperating with the ABA rating of judicial nominees. The American Bar Association ( ABA) founded August 21 1878 is a voluntary Bar association of Lawyers and law students which is not specific In 2003, she was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy. In November 2004, Bush named her to succeed Alberto Gonzales, his nominee for Attorney General, to the post of White House Counsel, the chief legal adviser for the Office of the President. Alberto R Gonzales (born August 4 1955) was the 80th Attorney General of the United States. In most Common law jurisdictions the Attorney General, or Attorney-General, is the main legal advisor to the government and in some jurisdictions may in addition The Executive Office of the President ( EOP) consists of the immediate staff of the President of the United States, as well as multiple levels of support staff reporting

Miers is said to be one of Bush's closest personal friends, and appears given to effusive praise for the President. According to former Bush speechwriter David Frum, Miers has called Bush the most brilliant man she had ever met [13] and says he was the "best Governor ever" (see [5]). David J Frum (born 1960 is a Canadian-born Conservative and journalist active in the both US and Canadian political arenas She also stated that "serving President Bush and Mrs. Bush is an impossible-to-describe privilege" and noted that Bush's personal qualities "make a brighter future for our nation and people all around the world possible. " (see [6]).

Miers' last public speech before her nomination was given to the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce on June 2, 2005. The North Dallas Chamber of Commerce is a Chamber of commerce located in north Dallas, Texas ( USA) Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Supreme Court nomination and withdrawal

Main article: Harriet Miers Supreme Court nomination
President George W. Bush nominates Harriet Miers on October 3, 2005.
President George W. On October 3 2005 Harriet Miers was nominated for Associate Justice of the U Bush nominates Harriet Miers on October 3, 2005. Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

On July 1, 2005, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor announced her intention to retire upon the confirmation of a successor. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sandra Day O'Connor (born March 26, 1930) is an American Jurist. Bush appointed Miers as head of the search committee for candidates to replace O'Connor. On July 19, 2005, Bush announced John G. Roberts, Jr. as O'Connor's replacement. Events 711 - Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by their king Roderic. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. John Glover Roberts Jr (born January 27 1955) is the seventeenth and current Chief Justice of the United States. After William H. Rehnquist died of thyroid cancer on September 3, Bush withdrew this nomination and renominated Roberts for Chief Justice of the United States. William Hubbs Rehnquist (October 1 1924 – September 3 2005 was an American lawyer, jurist, and a political figure who served as an Associate Justice Thyroid cancer refers to any of four kinds of malignant Tumors of the Thyroid gland papillary, follicular, medullary or Events 36 BC - In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompeius The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the judicial branch of the government of the United States, and presides over the U The Senate confirmed the nomination on September 29. Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire.

Meanwhile, then-Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada), recommended Miers as O'Connor's successor. The Senate Majority and Minority Leaders (also called Senate Floor Leaders) are two United States Senators who are elected by the party conferences Harry Mason Reid (born December 2 1939 is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, as well as The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Nevada ( is a state located in the western region of the United States of America. [14][15][16] Bush took the recommendation seriously, factoring into account suggestions by several senators that the nominee should come from outside the appellate court system. The United States courts of appeals (or circuit courts) are the intermediate appellate courts [17] This caused several commentators to draw parallels with the 2000 election, when Dick Cheney, the head of Bush's vice-presidential search committee, was ultimately selected as the running mate. Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney (born January 30 1941 is the forty-sixth and current Vice President of the United States. [18]

On October 3, 2005, Bush nominated Miers to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Miers' nomination was criticized from people all over the political spectrum, based on her never having served as a judge, her perceived lack of intellectual rigor, her close personal ties to Bush, and her lack of a clear record on issues likely to be encountered as a Supreme Court Justice. Many notable conservatives vigorously criticized her nomination, and numerous conservative groups normally considered part of Bush's political base planned to mount an organized opposition campaign. Summing up the complaints from all sides that her appointment was an exercise in cronyism, social satirist Calvin Trillin wrote:

Who's willing to draw water for George Bush and carry it?
Harriet. For the record label see Crony Records Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends especially by appointing them to positions of authority Calvin (Bud Marshall Trillin (born December 5, 1935 in Kansas City Missouri) is an American Journalist
Who worked to take his DWI rap and bury it?
Harriet.
Who thinks that anyone critical of him is Judas Iscariot?
Still Harriet.
Rah! Rah! Rah! [19]

Early one-on-one meetings between Miers and the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee were said to have gone poorly, and the White House considered suspending them to focus on preparation for the confirmation hearings. The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary (informally Senate Judiciary Committee) is a Standing committee of the United States Senate, the In an unprecedented move, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter and ranking Senator Patrick Leahy also requested that Miers re-do some of her answers to the questionnaire submitted to her by the Committee, noting that her responses were "inadequate," "insufficient," and "insulting" because she failed or refused to adequately answer various questions with acceptable accuracy or with sufficient detail. The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary (informally Senate Judiciary Committee) is a Standing committee of the United States Senate, the Arlen Specter (born February 12 1930) is the senior United States Senator from Pennsylvania and a member of the Republican Party Patrick Joseph Leahy (born March 31, 1940) is the senior United States Senator from Vermont. Her answers also included an error on constitutional law where she mentioned a constitutional right for proportional representation which the Supreme Court had previously ruled did not exist. [20] In addition to the demand for new questionnaire responses, the Committee repeated its request to review internal White House documents that would illustrate her experience as White House Counsel and the constitutional issues she worked on.

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) stated shortly afterwards that "I think, if you were to hold the vote today, she would not get a majority, either in the Judiciary Committee or on the floor. Charles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer (born November 23, 1950) is the senior U " However, Specter, the committee chairman rejected the notion that Miers' nomination was shaky. He said that most senators were waiting for the hearings before making up their mind. "There are no votes one way or another," he said on CBS' Face the Nation. Face the Nation is an American Sunday-morning political interview show which premiered on the CBS Television network on On October 19, 2005, Specter and Leahy announced their intent to begin confirmation hearings for Miers on November 7, 2005. Events 202 BCE - The Battle of Zama results in the defeat of Carthage and Hannibal. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1492 - The Ensisheim Meteorite the oldest Meteorite with a known date of impact strikes the Earth around noon in a Wheat Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

On October 27, 2005, the White House announced that Harriet Miers had asked President Bush to withdraw her nomination, citing fears that the nomination would create a "burden for the White House and its staff and it is not in the best interest of the country. Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. See also Executive Office of the President of the United States The White House, formerly known as the Executive Mansion, is the Official residence " President Bush stated that the Senate's interest in internal White House documents "would undermine a president's ability to receive candid counsel," and he had "reluctantly accepted" her request. Miers was the first Supreme Court nominee to withdraw since Douglas H. Ginsburg in 1987, and the seventh to do so in U. Douglas Howard Ginsburg (born May 25, 1946) is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. S. history.

Although many in Washington and in the media expressed surprise at Miers' decision to withdraw, the move was widely anticipated. Some commentators suggested the White House's staunch refusal to release documents relating to Miers' White House service provided a pretext for withdrawal.

Bush nominated Samuel Alito for the seat on October 31, 2005 and he was confirmed on January 31, 2006. Samuel Anthony Alito Jr (born April 1, 1950) is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Events 445 BC – Ezra reads the Book of the Law to the Israelites in Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 91 NLTse Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Miers remained as White House Counsel for another year, until announcing her resignation on January 4, 2007[21]. The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

See also: Bush Supreme Court candidates

Resignation and departure from the White House

Joshua B. Speculation abounded over potential nominations to the Supreme Court of the United States by George W Bolten, upon becoming G. W. Bush's chief of staff in April of 2006, pressed for Ms. Miers's resignation, but the idea was rejected by President Bush. After the 2006 elections, when Democrats won a majority of both houses of Congress, Mr. Bolten asked again for her departure, arguing that the president needed an aggressive lawyer and increased staff for the Office of Legal Counsel to fend off congressional inquiries and subpoenas. The second effort succeeded, and Ms. Miers announced her resignation January 4, 2007, and left January 31, 2007. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. [22][23][24] In April 2007, Ms. Miers rejoined her previous firm, Locke Liddell & Sapp and became a partner in its litigation and public policy group. She maintains offices in Austin, Dallas, and Washington, D. C. The firm is now known as Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP.

Dismissal of U. S. attorneys controversy

See also: Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy
Dismissal of U. The S. Attorneys Controversy ( v • d • e )
Articles
Administration Officials Involved
Involved Administration Officials that Resigned
  • Alberto Gonzales, United States Attorney General, former White House Counsel
  • Kyle Sampson, Chief of Staff to the Attorney General
  • Michael A. Battle, Director of the Executive Office for U. The A detailed chonology of events in the Dismissal of US attorneys controversy. This article about dismissed US attorneys summarizes the circumstances surrounding a number of U See also Dismissal of US attorneys controversy The various documents obtained by request or subpoena during dissmissal of U See also Dismissal of US attorneys controversy See Dismissal of U Fred Fisher Fielding (born March 21, 1939) is an American lawyer and a member of the George W The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States. William K Kelley served as Deputy Counsel to United States President George W William Emil Moschella (born April 17, 1968) a United States lawyer and political appointee as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General in the administration of Brett Tolman is the United States Attorney for the District of Utah. United States Attorneys (also known as federal prosecutors) represent the United States federal government in United States district court and The United States District Court for the District of Utah is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Utah. Alberto R Gonzales (born August 4 1955) was the 80th Attorney General of the United States. The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice (see) concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States. D Kyle Sampson (born in Cedar City Utah) was the Chief of Staff and Counselor of United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. For the theologian and academic see Michael J Battle. Michael A S. Attorneys
  • Michael Elston, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Attorney General
  • Monica Goodling, Justice Department's liaison to the White House
  • William W. Mercer, U. Michael James Elston (born February 7, 1969) a United States lawyer and political appointee in the administration of President George W Monica Marie Goodling (born August 6, 1973) is a former United States government lawyer and political appointee in the George W William W Mercer is a United States Attorney for the District of Montana, as well as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General for the United States S. Attorney, Acting Associate Attorney General (retains position as U. S. Attorney in Montana)
  • Sara Taylor, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Political Affairs
  • Paul McNulty, Deputy Attorney General
  • Harriet Miers, former White House Counsel (resigned prior to publicity surrounding the controversy, effective January 31, 2007)
  • Karl Rove, Deputy White House Chief of Staff
  • Bradley Schlozman, Director Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys; former Acting Assistant Attorney General for, and later Pricipal Deputy Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division; former interim U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri
U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary
U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary

Kyle Sampson, chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, wrote in January 2006 to White House counsel Harriet Miers that he recommended that the Department of Justice and the Office of the Counsel to the President work together to seek the replacement of a limited number of U. Sara Marie Taylor (born September 15, 1974 in Dubuque Iowa) was Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Political Affairs at the Paul J McNulty (born January 21, 1958 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) is the former Deputy Attorney General of the United States having previously Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Karl Christian Rove (born December 25, 1950) was Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W The Deputy White House Chief of Staff is officially the top aide to the White House Chief of Staff, who is the senior aide to the President of the United States. Bradley J Schlozman (born February 6, 1971) was the head of the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice, under United States Attorneys (also known as federal prosecutors) represent the United States federal government in United States district court and The US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division is the institution within the federal government responsible for enforcing federal statutes prohibiting Discrimination United States Attorneys (also known as federal prosecutors) represent the United States federal government in United States district court and The United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri is the federal judicial district encompassing 66 counties in the western The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary (informally Senate Judiciary Committee) is a Standing committee of the United States Senate, the Patrick Joseph Leahy (born March 31, 1940) is the senior United States Senator from Vermont. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Arlen Specter (born February 12 1930) is the senior United States Senator from Pennsylvania and a member of the Republican Party Charles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer (born November 23, 1950) is the senior U The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts is one of seven subcommittees within the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary US House Committee on the Judiciary, or (more commonly the House Judiciary Committee, is a Standing committee of John Conyers Jr (born May 16, 1929) is a member of the United States House of Representatives representing Michigan's 14th congressional district The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Lamar Seeligson Smith (born November 19 1947) is a Politician from the state of Texas, currently representing the state's Linda T Sánchez (born January 28 1969 in Orange California) an American politician has been a Democratic member of the The Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law (CAL is one of five subcommittees of the United States House Committee on the Judiciary. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. D Kyle Sampson (born in Cedar City Utah) was the Chief of Staff and Counselor of United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. In most Common law jurisdictions the Attorney General, or Attorney-General, is the main legal advisor to the government and in some jurisdictions may in addition Alberto R Gonzales (born August 4 1955) was the 80th Attorney General of the United States. S. Attorneys, and that by limiting the number of attorneys "targeted for removal and replacement" it would "mitigat[e] the shock to the system that would result from an across-the-board firing. "[25] In March 2007 the White House had originally suggested that the plan came from Miers who had already left the White House in January 2007, before the dismissal received public attention. [25] The firings have led to Congressional investigations regarding the dismissals. The

On June 13, 2007 The Senate and House judiciary committees issued subpoenas to Harriet E. Miers, former White House counsel, and Sara M. Taylor, former deputy assistant to President Bush and the White House director of political affairs to production of documents and appear before the committees to testify about what role, if any, both may have had in the U. Events 1525 - Martin Luther marries Katharina von Bora, against the Celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Harriet Ellan Miers (born August 10 1945 is an American Lawyer and former White House Counsel. Sara Marie Taylor (born September 15, 1974 in Dubuque Iowa) was Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Political Affairs at the S. Attorney firings controversy. Miers was requested to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 11, 2007. Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The White House reiterated its longstanding demand that no past or present White House officials would be permitted to testify under oath before the panels, and that private interviews, not under oath, and without transcripts would be permitted. The Chairs of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees reiterated that the White House terms were unacceptable. [26] Ranking member of the Senate Judiciary committee, Spector (R-PA) said that the committee had “really had no response from the White House” regarding possible testimony on the firing of several U. Arlen Specter (born February 12 1930) is the senior United States Senator from Pennsylvania and a member of the Republican Party S. attorneys, and that that had prompted the subpoena to compel a response. Miers refused to appear before Congress because Bush ordered her not to. [27][28]

On Wednesday, July 25, 2007, the House Judiciary Committee voted 22-17 to cite Miers for contempt of Congress for her failure to appear before the committee in response to its subpoena. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary US House Committee on the Judiciary, or (more commonly the House Judiciary Committee, is a Standing committee of Contempt of Congress is the act of obstructing the work of the United States Congress or one of its committees. [7] On Feb. 14, 2008, the full House of Representatives voted to cite her for contempt by a vote of 223-32. Many Republicans walked out of the chamber in protest, deriding the priorities of the speaker in calling the vote, as opposed to a vote on a surveillance bill. [8]

Awards and honors

Award Organization Year
"Sandra Day O'Connor Award for Professional Excellence" Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism 2005
"100 Most Influential Lawyers in America" National Law Journal 2000
"50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America" National Law Journal 1998
"100 Most Influential Lawyers in America" National Law Journal 1997
"Woman of the Year" Today's Dallas Woman 1997
"Women of Excellence" Women's Enterprise Magazine 1997
"Louise B. Sandra Day O'Connor (born March 26, 1930) is an American Jurist. The National Law Journal, a US Periodical founded in 1978, reports legal information of national importance to attorneys including federal The National Law Journal, a US Periodical founded in 1978, reports legal information of national importance to attorneys including federal The National Law Journal, a US Periodical founded in 1978, reports legal information of national importance to attorneys including federal Raggio Award" Dallas Women Lawyers' Association
"Jurisprudence Award" Anti-Defamation League 1996
"Merrill Hartman Award" Legal Services of North Texas
"Sarah T. Hughes Award" Women in the Law Section, State Bar of Texas 1993
"Human Relations Award" American Jewish Committee 1992
"Justinian Award for Community Service" Dallas Bar Association 1992

Timeline

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Bush's top lawyer Miers resigns. John Glover Roberts Jr (born January 27 1955) is the seventeenth and current Chief Justice of the United States. Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. BBC (2007-01-04). Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. Retrieved on 2007-01-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina.
  2. ^ Bush offers crucial supreme court seat to his former lawyer. The Guardian (United Kingdom) (October 4, 2005). The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Retrieved on 2007-01-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina.
  3. ^ Ancestry of Harriet Miers
  4. ^ Todd S. Purdum and Neil A. Lewis (October 4, 2005). Miers Known as a Hard-Working Advocate for the President. New York Times. Retrieved on 2007-01-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina.
  5. ^ Who is Harriet Miers. ABC News (2005-10-27). This article is about the American news organization See also ABC News (disambiguation ABC News is a division of American Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross. Retrieved on 2007-01-25. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate
  6. ^ Bob Egelko (October 5, 2005). Miers interned with Melvin Belli but returned to Dallas. San Francisco Chronicle. The San Francisco Chronicle was founded in 1865 as The Daily Dramatic Chronicle by teenage brothers Charles de Young and Michael H Retrieved on 2007-01-04]]. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina.
  7. ^ Ed Wyatt and Simone Romero of the New York Times. A BORN-AGAIN NOMINEE. San Francisco Chronicle. The San Francisco Chronicle was founded in 1865 as The Daily Dramatic Chronicle by teenage brothers Charles de Young and Michael H
  8. ^ "Raggio, now 83, has known Miers for nearly 40 years, since Miers was a student at Southern Methodist University. Miers was one class behind Raggio's son at SMU, and Raggio became a mentor for Miers; years later she served as a close advisor to Miers during the Texas Bar race. 'I was interested in having a woman president,' Raggio says. 'She was an electable woman, a woman with a big firm behind her. Women's groups supported her because they wanted to show that a woman would be a competent president. 'Will Miers help topple Roe v. Wade?. Salon. com (October 19, 2005). Retrieved on 2007-01-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina.
  9. ^ Class Action Reporter. InterNet Bankruptcy Library (May 1, 2000). Retrieved on 2007-01-05. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France.
  10. ^ Class Action Reporter. InterNet Bankruptcy Library (May 1, 2000). Retrieved on 2007-01-05. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France.
  11. ^ Julian Borger (October 4, 2005). Bush offers crucial supreme court seat to his former lawyer. Retrieved on 2007-01-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina.
  12. ^ George Lardner Jr. (September 21, 1999). Texas Speaker Reportedly Helped Bush Get Into Guard. The Washington Post. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D Retrieved on 2007-01-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina.
  13. ^ David Frum. David J Frum (born 1960 is a Canadian-born Conservative and journalist active in the both US and Canadian political arenas Sep. 29, 2005: Justice Miers?.
  14. ^ "I had recommended that the President consider nominating Ms. Miers because I was impressed with her record of achievement as the managing partner of a major Texas law firm and the first woman president of the Texas Bar Association. In those roles she was a strong supporter of law firm diversity policies and a leader in promoting legal services for the poor. "Harry Reid (Thursday, October 27, 2005). Reid on Miers Withdrawal (Press Release of Senator Reid). Retrieved on 2007-01-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina.
  15. ^ "I like Harriet Miers. As White House Counsel, she has worked with me in a courteous and professional manner. I am also impressed with the fact that she was a trailblazer for women as managing partner of a major Dallas law firm and as the first woman president of the Texas Bar Association. In my view, the Supreme Court would benefit from the addition of a justice who has real experience as a practicing lawyer. The current justices have all been chosen from the lower federal courts. A nominee with relevant non-judicial experience would bring a different and useful perspective to the Court. "Harry Reid (Monday, October 3, 2005). STATEMENT OF SENATOR HARRY REID ON THE NOMINATION OF HARRIET MIERS TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT (Press Release of Senator Reid). Retrieved on 2007-01-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina.
  16. ^ "I continue to believe that Harriet Miers received a raw deal. She is an accomplished lawyer, a trailblazer for women and a strong advocate of legal services for the poor. Not only was she denied the up-down vote that my Republican colleagues say every nominee deserves, but she was never even afforded the chance to make her case to the Judiciary Committee. "Harry Reid (Tuesday, January 31, 2006). REID STATEMENT ON THE CONFIRMATION OF SAMUEL ALITO (Press Release of Senator Reid). Retrieved on 2007-01-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina.
  17. ^ Bush picks White House counsel for Supreme Court. CNN (October 4, 2005). Cable News Network, usually referred to by its Initialism CNN, is a major English language Television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner Retrieved on 2007-01-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina.
  18. ^ Bush picks White House counsel for Supreme Court. CNN (October 4, 2005). Cable News Network, usually referred to by its Initialism CNN, is a major English language Television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner Retrieved on 2007-01-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina.
  19. ^ Trillin, Calvin. A Heckuva Job: More of the Bush Administration in Rhyme New York: Random House (2006). A collection of political doggerel originally published 2004-2006, including a longer work on Miers titled Trouble on the Right, pp. 60-61.
  20. ^ Senators Assail Miers's Replies, Ask for Details. Washington Post. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D Retrieved on 2008-04-18. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland.
  21. ^ Bush's top lawyer Miers resigns. BBC (2007-01-04). Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. Retrieved on 2007-01-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina.
  22. ^ Johnston, David and Sheryl Gay Stolberg. Gonzales Seems Confident He Will Stay, Officials Say The New York Times May 10, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2007.
  23. ^ Baker, Peter; R. Jeffrey Smith. "Miers Steps Down As White House Gears Up for Battle", New York Times, January 5, 2007, pp.  A01. Retrieved on 2007-05-23. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1430 - Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne  
  24. ^ Reichman, Deb; (Associated Press). "Miers Resigns As White House Counsel", Breitbart, January 4, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-05-23. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1430 - Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne  
  25. ^ a b Eggen, Dan. "Firings Had Genesis in White House Ex-Counsel Miers First Suggested Dismissing Prosecutors 2 Years Ago, Documents Show", Washington Post, March 13, 2007, p. Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.  Page A01. Retrieved on 2007-03-13. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II.  
  26. ^ Stout, David. "Congress Subpoenas Miers and Another Former Bush Aide", New York Times, June 13, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-06-13. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1525 - Martin Luther marries Katharina von Bora, against the Celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for  
  27. ^ Marre, Klaus. "Specter endorses subpoena of White House official", The Hill, Capitol Hill Publishing, June 13, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-06-14. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the  
  28. ^ Senate Judiciary Committee Subponea of Harriet Miers. Gonzales Watch (2007-06-13). Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1525 - Martin Luther marries Katharina von Bora, against the Celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for Retrieved on 2007-06-13. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1525 - Martin Luther marries Katharina von Bora, against the Celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for

External links

Supreme Court References
News articles
Other links
Preceded by
Alberto Gonzales		 White House Counsel
2004-2007		 Succeeded by
Fred F. Fielding
Alberto R Gonzales (born August 4 1955) was the 80th Attorney General of the United States. The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States. Fred Fisher Fielding (born March 21, 1939) is an American lawyer and a member of the George W
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