Bush’s top court pick has never been a judge

US PRESIDENT George W Bush nominated White House counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court yesterday, turning to a lawyer who has never been a judge to replace Sandra Day O’Connor and help reshape the nation’s judiciary.

"She has devoted her life to the rule of law and the cause of justice," Mr Bush said as his first Supreme Court pick, Chief Justice John Roberts, took the bench for the first time a few blocks from the White House.

If confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate, Ms Miers, 60, would join Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the second woman on the nation's highest court and the third to serve there.