Houston Chronicle
Oct. 12, 2005
In '97, Miers faced claim she violated constitutional right
U.S. senators vetting the high court nominee may well review firings
in Texas
By R.G. RATCLIFFE
AUSTIN - A lawsuit filed by a former Texas Lottery executive director
in 1997 accused U.S. Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers of violating
the director's First Amendment free-speech rights and the Texas Open
Meetings Act while conducting a partisan political purge of the state
agency.
The case, brought by former lottery Executive Director Nora Linares,
never went to trial and was settled with a statement from the
commission absolving Linares of any wrongdoing during her five-year
tenure at the lottery.
But since President Bush nominated Miers to the U.S. Supreme Court,
her actions as chair of the Texas Lottery Commission have taken on
added significance.
With little information about Miers available in the public record,
U.S. senators considering her confirmation are expected to scrutinize
her tenure as lottery-commission chairman. The focus is likely to be
on controversial firings of Linares and her replacement, Lawrence
Littwin, and the lawsuits both filed.
Linares' lawsuit may carry greater weight because it alleges
violations of law against Miers...
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"You are the best governor ever - deserving of great respect." Harriet
E. Miers in 1997 birthday card to George W. Bush.
"She rose to her present position by her absolute devotion to George
Bush. She told me that the president was the most brilliant man she
had ever met." - David Frum
The Supreme Court ain't FEMA.
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