COLLINS AND BOXER LEAD GROUP OF WOMEN SENATORS URGING O’CONNOR TO CONSIDER SERVING AS CHIEF JUSTICE SHOULD THERE BE A VACANCY

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are leading a bipartisan group of women Senators in asking Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor to consider staying on the Supreme Court to serve as Chief Justice, should there be a vacancy.

Collins said, "Sandra Day O'Connor has been a brilliant Justice who has always brought integrity and common sense to her role on the bench. She has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of legal excellence. Her outstanding service on the Court has made her a role model for women everywhere and she would make an outstanding Chief Justice."

Boxer said, "Justice O'Connor has been a model of moderation and independence throughout her time on the Supreme Court. She would not only be an outstanding choice to lead our nation's highest court, but she would make history as the first ever woman Chief Justice. I hope that Justice O'Connor will consider this very sincere proposal from a bipartisan group of women lawmakers who hold her in the highest esteem."

Following is the text of the letter:

Justice Sandra Day O''Connor Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Supreme Court of the United States Washington, DC 20543

Dear Justice O''Connor:

All of us are great admirers of you. Following Senator Specter''s comments this past weekend, we urge you to reconsider your resignation and return to the Supreme Court to serve as Chief Justice, should there be a vacancy.

Justice O''Connor, if there is a vacancy, we would be honored if you would consider being the first woman to ever serve as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

As United States Senators with the constitutional responsibility of "Advice and Consent," we would strongly recommend to President Bush that he nominate you as Chief Justice. You are an extraordinary jurist who has served on the Court since 1981. You possess moderation, dignity, and integrity, and have demonstrated the highest standards of legal excellence.

We believe such a history-making nomination by the President would demonstrate leadership that unites Americans around the shared values of liberty, the rule of law, and the preservation of our Constitutional freedoms.

We hope that you will give our request the serious consideration it deserves, should there be a vacancy for Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

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