Harriet Miers Withdraws Nomination from U.S. Supreme Court

President Bush has “reluctantly” accepted the withdrawal of Harriet Miers as his nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Miers was expected to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who announced her retirement earlier this year.

Miers had been under intense scrutiny from both Democrats and Republicans, who questioned her qualifications, primarily because she had never served as a judge. Miers, 60, is President Bush’s Chief White House Counsel and a long-time friend. The President said he would find a replacement for Miers in a timely manner.

In her letter to the President, Miers said she was “concerned that the confirmation process presents a burden for the White House and our staff that is not in the best interest of the country,'' Miers, who was criticized for responses she made to a questionnaire from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was supposed to turn in a second set of answers to the questionnaire today.

Court watchers indicated that the timing of the withdrawal may make the naming of the new nominee to be seated before the end of the year problematic at best.