Washington, DC – Congressman Mike Honda, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, today issued the following statement on the nomination of Harriet Miers to the U.S. Supreme Court:

“CAPAC congratulates Harriet Miers on her nomination to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court.  Ms. Miers is only the third woman ever nominated to the highest court in the land.
 
In deciding whether or not to support the nominee, CAPAC will examine Ms. Miers’ record on issues of importance to the Asian and Pacific Islander American community, including affirmative action, fighting hate crimes, protecting immigrant rights, and voting rights. CAPAC will also scrutinize Miers’ record on women’s rights, particularly her views on the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.

It is crucial that the Senate take the time to thoroughly review Ms. Miers’ nomination, especially because she has not served as a judge and therefore has no record of judicial decision making. 

Ms. Miers has the responsibility and burden to prove that she is well-qualified to sit on our nation’s highest court. She must be forthright with the Senate and the American people and provide direct answers to questions about her commitment to an independent judiciary and to upholding fundamental rights, freedoms, and legal protections for all Americans before she can earn a lifetime appointment to the Court.”