CHRIS SEGAL
Perspectives Editor
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Harriet Miers
President Bush nominated Harriet Miers on Tuesday to the Supreme Court. Miers, 60, received an honorary degree from Pepperdine in May and was the distinguished speaker for the School of Law’s graduation ceremonies.
An honorary degree is the highest honor and is reserved for individuals who manifest ideals consistent with Pepperdine’s mission statement, said law professor Douglas Kmiec.
Miers serves as White House counsel, the chief legal adviser to the president. Dean Kenneth Starr served as Miers’ contact and arranged the speaking engagement, according to Patty Hayes, a School of Law administrative assistant.
“Each commencement speaker has the opportunity to say their few last words,” Kmiec said. “Harriet’s words were both humble and inspiring. Humble in the sense she harvested great intelligence, and (she) said that there is no reason other students could not follow in her steps.”
It’s encouraging to see someone with an honorary degree from Pepperdine was nominated to the Supreme Court, said senior Jared Kemper. Kemper is currently in the process of applying to law schools, including Pepperdine’s School of Law.
Those at the School of Law are pleased with the success of Miers.
“We are unquestionably happy for Ms. Miers,” Kmiec said. “It is always an honor when you can claim someone in high office as an alumni, it is certainly a tribute to the university.”
Miers was born in Dallas and attended Southern Methodist University for her undergraduate degree in math and her law degree. She worked for the firm Locke, Liddell & Sapp and was a co-managing partner when she left. Miers was also the first woman to serve as the head of the Dallas Bar Association.
In 1992, while president of the Texas State Bar, Miers wrote for the publication, “Texas Lawyer.” In this publication she wrote about her views on punishment for criminals: “Punishment of wrongdoers should be swift and sure. Only then can the criminal justice system serve as an effective deterrent. Those who would choose a rule of man rather than the rule of law must not escape fitting penalty. Again, the lack of adequate resources to support an overburdened criminal justice system looms as a reality.”
Horace Taylor, a former employee to MSNBC, expressed his confidence in Miers’ ability to tackle cases at the Supreme Court level.
“Although she’s a small-framed woman, we all believed she came through the Marines — and maybe ate nails for breakfast — because she’s one tough cookie,” Taylor said.
10-06-2005