As Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers awaits Senate confirmation hearings, Athens-area judges and students offer their opinions of her experience as an attorney and the challenges she will face.
Miers, President Bush's current White House counsel, was the first female president of major Texas law firm Locke Purnell. Miers was also the first woman to serve as president of the Dallas Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas. She has never presided over a courtroom.
Athens-area judges think Miers can rise to the challenge, despite her lack of judicial experience.
I think it's always difficult to become a judge. People make that transition. Is it difficult? Yes. Is it impossible? No
said Thomas Hodson, former Athens County Common Pleas Court judge and director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.
Hodson was a Supreme Court fellow from 1986-87, at the start of former chief justice William Rehnquist's term.
Rehnquist also had never served in a judicial capacity before being confirmed - the Constitution does not require a Supreme Court nominee have prior judicial service or even be a lawyer, Hodson said. Former Chief Justice Earl Warren entered the position on similar terms.
Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Ward agrees that the transition will be difficult, calling the switch from advocate to impartial mediator a tremendous leap.
Others think Miers' legal career might be an advantage to her.
I think it's more than fine that she's never been a judge because it keeps her from being locked into her previous decisions said Beverly Patusky, a sophomore journalism major.
Miers' nomination comes at a pivotal time in the history of the court, Hodson and Ward both said.
I think the nomination is so pivotal because it has the power to change the balance of the court Hodson said.
Tremendous issues are coming before the court, Ward said.
Ohio University students seem less concerned about Miers nomination.
I don't think many of my peers care
said Mitchell Warden, a senior early childhood education major.
The confirmation hearings will make or break Miers' confirmation. Opinions on the hearings' outcome vary widely.
Because of her lack of judicial decisions, the hearings could become a real battleground
Hodson said.
Even though most think the hearings will result in confirmation, others have doubts.
Her lack of judicial experience and courtroom experience as a lawyer
whether as a clerk for the Supreme Court or something similar
will help get her nomination shot down
Warden said. That and cronyism.
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