Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement has been delayed again, putting her at the center of upcoming Supreme Court debates on abortion, the death penalty and gay rights.
Until Thursday, the White House had been pushing to have Harriet Miers confirmed before the Court took up some of the most contentious cases of the year. Miers' withdrawal means O'Connor will hear those cases -- and could control the outcome.
She is a moderate who has backed abortion rights and limits on capital punishment. And she has not been hesitant to oppose the Bush administration.
Maybe things have backfired for the "social conservatives" who derailed Miers' nomination, at least in the short term. Details here from the AP via Law.com.