[JURIST] US Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers [JURIST news archive; Washington Post profile] Tuesday will turn in her responses to a Senate Judiciary Committee [official website] questionnaire devised to reveal how she might rule on cases brought before the Supreme Court. In meetings with Senators following her nomination [JURIST report] to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Miers has revealed that she believes the Constitution contains a right to privacy, but she stopped short of divulging her personal views on the 1973 ruling that established abortion rights, Roe v. Wade [text]. Many conservatives view the case as the prime example of the Supreme Court creating a constitutional right that does not otherwise exist. AP has more.
10:53 AM ET – Materials submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday indicate that Miers supported a 1989 push for a constitutional amendment that would ban abortions except when necessary to save the life of the mother. Miers' responses to Senate questions included a 1989 survey by Texans United for Life [advocacy website]. On that survey, Miers indicated that she would actively support ratification by the Texas Legislature of a "Human Life Amendment" to the US constitution. Miers also said she would oppose the use of public money for abortions and would use her influence to keep people with "pro-abortion" views off Texas health boards and commissions. AP has more.