First US woman judge quits

2005-07-01 22:14

Washington - A battle for the political soul of the US Supreme Court erupted on Friday within minutes of the retirement announcement by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

President George W Bush, congressional leaders and lobby groups weighed in on the news after months of girding for a fight over a potential vacancy on the top US court.

"Under the Constitution, I am responsible for nominating a successor for Justice O'Connor. I take this responsibility seriously. I will be deliberate and thorough in this process," Bush said.

"The nation deserves and I will select a Supreme Court Justice that Americans can be proud of," Bush said.

Dignified

"The nation also deserves a dignified process of confirmation in the United States Senate, characterised by fair treatment, a fair hearing and a fair vote."

Despite that call, leaders from across the political spectrum sought immediate advantage in what is likely to be an enormously testy process of confirming Bush's eventual nominee.

"America needs judges who are fair, independent, unbiased and committed to equal justice under the law," said Republican Senate Majority leader Bill Frist.

"I'm confident the president will select a qualified replacement justice who embodies these qualities."

Senator Edward Kennedy, whose stiff opposition scuppered the confirmation of Ronald Reagan's Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork, called on Bush to appoint someone who could be embraced by all Americans.

Mainstream

"Justice O'Connor was a mainstream conservative who was confirmed unanimously by the Senate," Kennedy said.

"I hope the President will select someone who meets the high standards that she set and can bring the nation together as she did. President Bush is faced with a decision that affects each and every American."

Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean also called on Bush to emulate Reagan in his choice of O'Connor.

Religious groups also immediately cranked up their nomination campaign.

Another conservative group Vision America said Bush had "A God-given opportunity" to change the balance of the Supreme Court.

At the opposite end of the political spectrum, liberal political action committee MoveOn.org rolled out a hard-hitting advertising campaign.

"The message: Don't nominate an extremist who will undermine the rights of individuals and families as the President did in the Terri Schiavo case several months ago," MovOn.org said in a statement, referring to the recent Florida right-to-die controversy.

"Protect our rights."

- AFP