CNN Inside Politics - Transcript
CNN Inside Politics - Transcript
Friday, July 15, 2005
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JOHNS: Earlier I discussed the high court vacancy and the confirmation process with Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas. He's a member of the Judiciary Committee. I started out by asking the Senator Cornyn about all the speculation that surrounded the chief justice.
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SEN. JOHN CORNYN, (R) TEXAS: Well, I think the chief justice is getting a little tired of people speculating about his imminent retirement. It kind of reminds me of Mark Twain talking about rumors of his demise being premature when his death was reported.
You know, I -- we're going to get more than one vacancy on the Supreme Court here very soon, I'm convinced, but one at a time is plenty. JOHNS: Do you think the fact that he's not retiring any time soon changes the calculus on the type of nominee the White House might have to put out there?
CORNYN: I don't. I actually think the president is going to call this pretty straight, what I would expect him to do. Of course I knew him when he was governor of Texas. I have seen him nominate people to courts before. And I think they probably know who he's going to nominate in this -- the speculation really doesn't change much of anything.
JOHNS: So obviously the main question now is what about the nominee to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court. Senator Kennedy said on CNN recently that he thinks judicial philosophy is fair game as a question in the nomination hearings. What do you think of that? In fact he mentioned you.
CORNYN: I saw that. And I guess if what he's talking about is whether a nominee believes that we ought to enforce the law as written or whether they feel judges should be primarily policy makers and make it up as they go along. I guess in that broad context I would concur that philosophy is appropriate.
But if he's talking about having nominees make promises to politicians about how they are likely to rule on specific cases or specific issues, when they become judge, I think that's -- those kind of answers to those kind of questions would be inappropriate.
JOHNS: Now, your name has been mentioned as a possibility to fill the seat of Sandra Day O'Connor. No. 1, has the White House even talked to you at all about this? Have you been interviewed? Are you inside the process as it stands now?
CORNYN: No, I think what it shows is that the speculation here is just rampant. I'm happy being in the Senate. This is where I want to be. I haven't heard from the White House and I really don't expect to hear from them.
But it's not bad to have your name mentioned in that kind of favorable context. So, I'm happy to hear it.
JOHNS: Of course, you, the former attorney general of the state of Texas, you are also on the judiciary committee in the Senate, of course. You would be well qualified if the president named you.
A simple question, though, do you think the president of the United States ought to at this day and time name members of the United States Senate to the court, or is the time for that passed?
CORNYN: You know, John, I'm reluctant to make a recommendation to the president because in the end, his vote is the only one that counts on who the nominee is going to be. While he has reached out in an unprecedented fashion to consult with senators and to seek their suggestions on this -- as this process goes forward, he's certainly not under any obligation to do so. And he ultimately is the only one whose going to make that selection. Then our job kicks in, where we're going to have a hearing, we'll ask tough questions. And then we'll get a chance to vote. And that's the way it should be.
JOHNS: Being from Texas you've also obviously been following the Karl Rove situation very closely. Any advice to the White House right now?
CORNYN: I think the president has it exactly right. There's a process that needs to play its way out. And that is in the criminal justice context based on what I've seen, Karl has nothing to worry about. But here again we recognize that Washington, D.C. has its own unique form of attack politics and this has become a political football. That's all that I can tell.
JOHNS: That, of course, Senator John Cornyn of Texas.
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