Q &(not much) A

Give Her an "Incomplete"

By Rick Horowitz

1. Name: Full name (include any former names used).
Harriet Ellan Miers

2. Position: State the position for which you have been nominated. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

3. Address: List current office address. If state of residence differs from your place of employment, please list the state where you currently reside.
The White House, Washington, D.C. 20502
I currently reside in Virginia, but also maintain a home in Texas.

4. Pertinent Experience: List in chronological order all cases in which you have participated in private practice as lead attorney or sole attorney, and in which the issues in dispute included matters of constitutional interpretation or application.
The first case.
The second case.
The third case.
The fourth case.
The fifth case.

5. Additional Experience: List in order of importance all issues of constitutional interpretation or application which you have addressed during service, elective or appointive, with or without compensation, in local, state or federal government. For each of these issues, please describe the context in which the particular issue arose, your own contribution to the discussion of the issue (including memoranda and/or meeting notes, where relevant), the position you adopted regarding the constitutional issue at stake, and the ultimate resolution of the matter under discussion.
A little of this, a little of that.

6. Legal Activities: Describe the most significant legal activities you have pursued while in private practice or government service. Describe fully the extent of your participation in these activities.
Both in private practice and in government service, all of my activities have been legal. I participated in these activities actively. It's just the way I am.

7. Potential Conflicts of Interest: Explain how you will resolve any potential conflict of interest, including the procedure you will follow in determining these areas of concern. Specifically, explain how you will resolve any conflicts that may arise by virtue of your service in the Bush administration, as George W. Bush's personal lawyer, or as the lawyer for George W. Bush's gubernatorial and presidential campaigns.
No problem!

8. Role of Judges: Discuss your views on "judicial activism." While we want judges to always be vigilant in protecting the rights and freedoms of all Americans, we need to be sure that judges remain mindful of their role within the constitutional system. The judicial branch is only one of three branches of the government, along with the legislative branch ("The Congress") and the executive branch ("The Most Brilliant Man I've Ever Met and His Friends").

9. Importance of Precedent: Discuss your views on the importance of precedent.
Precedent is very important. When it comes to deciding cases, precedent is one of the most important things of all. Before taking any action, whether to uphold a precedent or overturn it, a judge has to be sure he or she is doing the right thing. Doing the right thing is very important. When it comes to deciding cases, doing the right thing is one of the most important things of all. How do I know? The Bible tells me so.

10. Other: At least you've paid your bar dues on time, right?
Generally.

Posted 10/20/05. Get all your Qs entertainingly Aed right here at "Rick's"!

Rick Horowitz is a syndicated columnist, TV commentator, writing coach and public speaker.

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