One Supreme Court battle stopped for a while this past weekend, but another one is just around the corner.
After nominee Harriet Miers withdrew her name from consideration for the Supreme Court, President George W. Bush yesterday named Samuel Alito as his new choice.
Miers faced harsh criticism from not only liberal politicians but from within the Republican Party as well. She was portrayed as someone without enough credentials for the position and was too close to Bush on a personal level to be considered.
Harry Mahood, a political science professor at The University of Memphis, said the choice of Miers was a strategical error, but the nomination of Alito won't fix the situation.
"This (nomination) could definitely be another mess," he said. "The Democrats will give this a close look, and this could all carry over for a long time."
Alito, 55, is a judge on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and was appointed to the position by President George H.W. Bush.
"(The nominee) should have been someone like Sandra Day O'Connor," said Stella Warren, U of M sociology instructor.
O'Connor, seen as a swing vote in some cases, was known as someone who would uphold women's rights. She is stepping down this year and will be replaced by the newest nominee.
Ashley Wilson, a senior psychology major, said that when it comes to voting, many people don't always consider the ramifications that follow an election, such as a president appointing new justices.
"Sometimes people forget how easy it can be for someone to try and enact their will," she said. "The person nominated should be someone with balanced views and interests."
With Miers withdrawing Thursday morning and Alito being named yesterday morning, some students wonder why a choice was made so quickly.
"I think the process should have taken a little more time on (deciding)," said Vinson Chamberlain, a computer science major. "Someone shouldn't be picked after the first few days, but just make sure to get the right person."
Mahood said the position does not required a certain type of person because the Constitution is liberal in this area.
"Over time, though, a criteria has developed for a justice," he said. "Things such as having a law degree and getting it from a good school are some of the bases the president has to touch."
Almost as quickly as he was nominated, Alito faced criticism yesterday afternoon. Republicans like the pick because of Alito's judicial background, while some Democrats believe the type of nominee has not changed since Miers.
"We'll just have to see how things play out," Mahood said.
