Bush names former senator Thompson to help guide court nominee News
Bush names former senator Thompson to help guide court nominee

[JURIST] President Bush Wednesday named former Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) [official profile] as an "informal adviser" to help guide his future Supreme Court nomination through the Senate. Thompson, perhaps better known for his acting career [Internet Movie Database entry], was elected to serve the remainder of Al Gore's term in 1994 and easily re-elected in 1996. He served on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and retired in 2002 to return to acting. Coincidentally, he now plays a district attorney on NBC's "Law & Order". In a press statement, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, also a Tennessee Republican, said Thompson has a "profound understanding" of judiciary business. AP has more.