The American people have a vital interest in an independent and impartial Supreme Court.

A quarter century ago, Ronald Reagan enthusiastically accepted the recommendation of Barry Goldwater and nominated a mainstream conservative to the Supreme Court who came to the job with an open mind and true judicial temperament. That nominee, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, was confirmed in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 99-0 in 1981.

The President now has an opportunity to begin uniting the country by working with the U.S. Senate in its "advise and consent" role to confirm a Justice that we can all support, not one that further aggravates the divisions we have suffered in recent years.

Please join me in encouraging President Bush to select a Supreme Court nominee who, like Justice O'Connor, will receive unanimous support in the Senate.

I ask you to add your voice to mine by signing the petition below to urge President Bush to nominate a justice who will exercise the independence and impartiality that America expects from its highest court.

With so many challenges facing the country at home and abroad, we owe it to the nation to find broad, bipartisan support for the next Supreme Court Justice as we have done so often in the past.

Please act today.

Thank you,