Overview of The Selection Process
On July 1, 2005, Sandra Day O'Connor announced her plan to retire as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, effective as of the date that her replacement was confirmed by the United States Senate. Bush appointed Miers as head of the search committee for candidates to replace O'Connor. On July 19, Bush announced that he had chosen John G. Roberts, Jr. as O'Connor's replacement. After William Rehnquist died of complications from thyroid cancer on September 3, Bush withdrew this nomination and renominated Roberts for Chief Justice, to which he was confirmed.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) recommended Miers as O'Connor's successor. Bush agreed with Reid's suggestion, factoring comments by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania) and ranking Senator Pat Leahy (D-Vermont) that Bush's nominees should be outside of the appellate court system. First Lady Laura Bush and Senator Hillary Clinton had also both publicly expressed hope that he would nominate a woman.
On October 3, Bush nominated Miers to succeed O'Connor.
See also: George W. Bush Supreme Court candidatesRead more about this topic: Harriet Miers Supreme Court Nomination
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