Coalition to President: Consultation Must Be Meaningful
Feature Story by civilrights.org staff - 7/8/2005
In anticipation of the president meeting with Senate leaders to discuss replacing retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a broad-based coalition urged ongoing, meaningful consultation with both parties to ensure a consensus nominee.A letter to President Bush signed by more than 75 national organizations pointed out that when previous presidents put forward consensus nominees, "the confirmation process was smooth and swift."
Recent examples included Justice O'Connor herself, who was nominated by President Ronald Reagan after being recommended for the position by Democratic Senator Dennis DeConcini; as well as Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer, who were nominated by President Bill Clinton after seeking the advice of Republican Senator Orrin Hatch.
"If you send the Senate a nominee who, like Justice O'Connor, is committed to preserving the rights, liberties, and legal protections Americans rely on, you will help heal division and spare the nation a polarizing confirmation battle," the letter urged the president.
The letter asked the president to "choose the course of unity" and select a candidate who could "unite the country, earn the confidence of the American people, and win broad bipartisan support in the United States Senate."
