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Bush urges fair hearing for high court nominee
 YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS(CNN) -- Although he named no nominees, President Bush on Saturday urged senators to "rise above partisanship" in the confirmation process of any new Supreme Court justice to replace Sandra Day O'Connor. "The nominee deserves fair treatment, a fair hearing and a fair vote. I will make my nomination in a timely manner so the nominee can be confirmed before the start of the court's new term in October," he said in his weekly radio address. In his remarks, the president referred to the confirmation process of the two justices nominated by President Bill Clinton: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, confirmed in 50 days in 1993, and Justice Stephen Breyer, confirmed in 77 days, a year later. "These examples show that the thorough consideration of a nominee does not require months of delay," he said, adding that both justices were confirmed despite their "significant philosophical differences" with some Republican senators. Bush gave no names in his speech and he did not indicate where on the political spectrum his nominee would be, saying only that "the nominee will meet the highest standards of intellect, character and ability, and will pledge to faithfully interpret the constitution and laws of our country." Many lawmakers have praised the president for consulting senators in determining who his nominee will be. "Our recommendations to the president have been followed, in that he is reaching out across the aisle and getting most of the views of the senators on both sides of the aisle," Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, told reporters on Thursday. And Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachuetts., told CNN Wednesday that "I applaud the fact that the president has reached out to the members of Judiciary Committee. And I applaud ... the fact that he has been meeting with members of the Judiciary Committee. He's been seeking out Republicans as well as Democrats." Bush said Saturday that "members of the Senate are receiving a full opportunity to provide their opinions and recommendations, and I appreciate their advice." Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney met Tuesday with four senators with key roles in the confirmation process: Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tennessee; Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada; Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania; and the committee's ranking Democrat, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont. The senators said afterward that potential nominees were discussed, although Bush did not offer any names. They did commit to having O'Connor's replacement in place by the start of the court's new term in October, with hearings in the Judiciary Committee most likely held in September. 
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