Chief Justice Roberts 'Slam Dunk'

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John Glover Roberts Jr. is taking his place as the seventeenth Chief Justice, and the next leader of the U.S. Supreme Court, with a commanding majority of the Senate backing him (78 - 22), to lead the Court through turbulent social issues into the 21st Century, that will affect generations to come.

A Catholic with conservative views, Roberts, 50, will be the youngest Chief Justice in two centuries. It is incredible to think that shortly after graduating from Harvard in 1979, he was clerk to Chief Justice Rehnquist, whose place he takes today at the Supreme Court bench, some twenty five years later.

Fair, modest, and renowned for his unflappable style in oral argument, he will make a great Chief Justice. Known to be an honest and straightforward person in his private life as well as a man of God, he has an almost unimpeachable credibility with all but the extreme left.

It makes me think of Shaw's famous line: "Some men see things as they are and ask 'Why?'. I dream of things that never were and ask 'Why not?' "

Michelle Malkin has the list with the 53 Republicans and 23 Democrats that voted yes, and the 22 Democrats that voted no, and Orin Kerr @ The Volokh Conspiracy has the Congratulations! Jeff Goldstein thinks "Roberts was nearly perfect", and gives an update with the list of the Senators in 'pursuit of higher office', and bigger agendas. Joe Gandelman @ The Moderate Voice weighs in.

Article III Groupie @ Underneath Their Robes, who always has her ear to the ground, is wandering whether Roberts will keep the Chief Justice Rehnquist 4 Gold Stripes on each sleeve of the Chief Justice Robe, which his predecessor Chief Justice Rehnquist added. " As fashionistas like A3G might say, when it comes to judicial robes, "Black is the new black!"

My previous posts on Roberts:
Who is 'Stare Decisis' and What does Roberts Rhink of Her?
A 'Cut Above' The Chief Justice Roberts Look
The Ghost of 'Pro Bono' Past
Judge Roberts Governed By Faith or Oath?

Update 3 pm:  Roberts has been sworn in:

"The Senate has confirmed a man with an astute mind and kind heart," Bush said. "All Americans can be confident that the 17th chief justice of the United States will be prudent in exercising judicial power, firm in defending judicial independence and above all a faithful guardian of the Constitution."

Comments

[Kenny Pierce]

Alexandra,

... it shows a deep unity between the couple who are dancing carefree in their seventies, which I love the most; the simplicity of their life together and surroundings, which despite it's possible shortcommings brings them happiness; and although Roberts does not lead a simple life, he certainly is an advocate of it, and is deep down a very modest man...

If I tell you that you have reminded me of Nikolai Ivanovich and Elena Alexandrovna, will you know that I am referring to Oleg's friends the Kadmins, of Ush-Terek, from Solzhenitsyn's Cancer Ward?

If so, you'll no doubt know without my saying so how much I like them, Polyanna-ish though they may be.

At any rate, that's whom you've reminded me of, and the reminder is a pleasant one.

[north by northwest]

Semanticleo,

What to say? I guess everyone believes, even if with reservations, that they got this one right... NEXT!

[Semanticleo]

He will undoubtedly defy predictions,

We shall see. I hope you are correct.

Disappointed at the tame exchange?

Dana

[Alexandra]

Kenny,

I fell in love with this photograph recently, and the very first time I saw it I immediately thought of Judge Roberts' victory moment (at the time not yet nominated for Chief). It's incredible how some photographs simply jump out at me, and I know immediately where they belong. Of all the photographs to have chosen for today, I loved this one because it depicts several things evidenced with this confirmation today: the first is the elation I knew I would feel at the moment when the confirmation comes through, and this photograph depicts that; secondly it shows a deep unity between the couple who are dancing carefree in their seventies, which I love the most; the simplicity of their life together and surroundings, which despite it's possible shortcommings brings them happiness; and although Roberts does not lead a simple life, he certainly is an advocate of it, and is deep down a very modest man; and the third being the longevity of the position, hence the elderly couple celebrating growing into the lifetime position of Chief Justice.

Last but not least is the lime green sweater showing a certain unpredictability, and not always playing it safe. So there you have it, my thought process in choosing, and although it sounds a long one, I actually make it instantly.

[Alexandra]

Semanticleo,

Roberts' views unquestionably affect, if not determine how he will interpret the broader phrases of the Constitution, however it was impossible for him to commit himself in any depth on any given subject. He would have been all too painfully aware that expressing his views at this stage publicly could damage his ability to stay the course on those very subjects. Keen I am sure, not to repeat the situation quite like we had when Justice Scalia, faced with the Pledge of Allegiance, having expressed his view publicly on the issue, and the particular case itself, had to recuse himself once Michael Newdow petitioned the Court.

Now as far as attempting to interpret what we think we know so far: The Roberts record sheds light on three issues - Roe v Wade (your abortion issue), the separation of Church and State, and congressional power. The Bush administration is opposed to the first two, but has not carried forward the small government beliefs of earlier Republican Administrations. If the record can be trusted, it would appear that Roberts will be inclined to continue the opposition to Roe and the separation of Church and State, but he appears likely to reject the Bush Administration position on Federal power in favor of the Reagan Administration approach.

A few of his statements over time may give us some clues on 'the right to privacy', such as :"It's a free country and the right to be left alone is one of our basic rights", even though clearly he was commenting on the end of life decision. He referred time and again to a 1992 Supreme Court ruling upholding Roe as "a valid precedent entitled to respect" adding that "...it is a jolt to the legal system when you overrule a precedent"; ...all very good signs I would say.

He will undoubtedly defy predictions, taking an entirely different view to the safely predicted, on a lot of issues, and more importantly he will not be afraid to disagree with any of his prior opinions. That should get all of us thoroughly confused!

The fact that he looks and dresses like Cary Grant in North by Northwest, helps me tremendously to like him a great deal. LOL!!!!!!! And if any of you guys quote me on that I shall deny it!! LOL....

[Kenny Pierce]

LOL, I don't know what picture I expected you to come up with, but that CERTAINLY wasn't what I was expecting.

That's hilarious.

Should I recognize these people?

[Semanticleo]

No one truly knows John Roberts, yet.

The concern some have is that he has indicated he agrees with some constructionists in that there is no inherent 'right to privacy' found in the Constitution.

That bleeds into "going into the bedroom' to uncover what should remain behind closed doors. In turn, the abortion issue is indistinguishable in principle and furthers the dangerous ground religion enters when it seeks to conjoin itself with changing established law. John Roberts is an unknown factor until that fateful day when he is called upon to finally, and without the parsed dialogue, exclaim his true legal opinions.