A capital visit prompts Supreme Court questions

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales visited Florida's capital for the first time Monday.

By Times Staff
Published September 27, 2005

---

TALLAHASSEE - U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was in the Florida Capitol visiting Gov. Jeb Bush and talking about leadership Monday.

Will he be the next nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, a St. Petersburg Times reporter asked.

"Ask the president, I don't know," Gonzales said with a grin.

It was his first visit to Florida's state capital. Speaking to a group of about 250 state employees, law students and many who have worked for the governor, Gonzales talked about growing up in a poor family with seven brothers and becoming the only one in his family to attend college.

He urged state employees to "give it all you have every day" and get the kind of education and training that would allow them to take advantage of any opportunity.

He fielded questions about the need for better hurricane response, a court ruling on the Pledge of Allegiance that he thinks will be overturned, and homeland security. He also said he is reading Active Liberty , a new book written by Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, one of the more liberal members of the court.

The governor, asked whether he shares the concern of some conservatives who don't think Gonzales is conservative enough to get the nomination, said Gonzales is conservative enough for him.

Was he concerned about the book Gonzales is reading? "No, it's good to know what the enemy is thinking," Bush joked.

Bush said he has not followed all of the "whispering in Washington," but thinks his brother will receive good counseling on the next nominee.