LAC News
John Roberts Should Carry on the Rehnquist Legacy
By Amelia Wigton
September 2005

Amid the tragedy and chaos of Hurricane Katrina, another potentially explosive cloud gathered in Washington, D.C., this week when President Bush announced on Monday his nomination of Judge John G. Roberts to replace the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist on the Supreme Court.

The country is still mourning the September 3 death of Chief Justice Rehnquist, who is being remembered as a staunch defender of life, religious freedom and the Constitution.  The spirit of respect and dignity shown to the late Chief Justice and his office should be carried over to next week’s hearings for the man nominated to succeed him – John Roberts.

The candid photos of John Roberts serving as a pallbearer to the justice for whom he once clerked shows Rehnquist’s powerful legacy -- one Roberts should be allowed to continue. 

Jan LaRue, Concerned Women for America’s (CWA’s) Chief Counsel, said on Rehnquist’s passing: “The greatest honor President Bush can give the Chief Justice is to nominate a successor committed to his legacy of shifting the balance of the Court to the written Constitution.”

Throughout his career, Rehnquist demonstrated that he was, above all else, committed to the law.  Despite heavy social pressure, Rehnquist’s legal opinions opposed  legalized abortion and affirmative action programs, which divide Americans on the basis of race or sex, and supported the display of the Ten Commandments on public grounds.  Rehnquist’s record clearly shows that he was a constitutionalist.

Like the late Chief Justice, John Roberts has demonstrated thus far that he desires to respect and uphold the Constitution, despite any social pressures that are placed upon him.  While working for Solicitor General Kenneth Starr, Roberts questioned the constitutionality of issues such as abortion and so-called “affirmative action” programs.  Though these issues have currently surrounded Roberts in controversy, they also demonstrate his commitment to the law.

The job of Chief Justice on the Supreme Court is especially important in determining the pace, organization and case load of the court.  The record of John Roberts as a law clerk, lawyer, litigator and judge demonstrates that he has extensive experience.  He has been widely praised by many of his peers, and has been deemed more than competent for the position of Chief Justice.

President Bush did his job and named his nominee to the High Court in a timely and efficient manner.  Now, it is up to the Senate to do its job to carry out a proper hearing, conduct an up or down vote and confirm John Roberts.  There is no need for a senseless, emotional smear campaign to be waged by those who oppose Roberts.   The historic confirmation process within the Senate should not be undermined, and should be carried on in a respectful manner. 

John Roberts is a strong nominee who CWA believes will carry on the legacy of Chief Justice Rehnquist as a constitutional conservative.  That is the type of Supreme Court Justice that the Founders intended to serve, and that is who the Senate should confirm.