Roberts is the Right Man for the Court

Roberts is the Right Man for the Court
By Rep. Shelley Moore Capito

9/15/2005

Earlier this summer President Bush nominated Judge John Roberts to be the next associate justice to the Supreme Court of the United States. The American people quickly learned Judge Roberts was equipped with the intellect, experience and temperament we would expect from a member of our nation's highest court.

It comes as no surprise that in the wake of the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist, President Bush has nominated Roberts to be the next chief justice of the United States.

It would be a surprise if his nomination were to be delayed because of partisan backpedaling.

Robert's credentials have not changed one bit since the president nominated him earlier this summer. He is still the same man the American people have learned so much about in the past few weeks.

He is a husband, father of two children, graduate of Harvard University, and a lawyer who has faced a challenging and a diverse array of cases.

Roberts has led a career of accomplishment. As principal deputy solicitor general, Roberts briefed and argued 39 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the government. When President Bush nominated him to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, he was confirmed without the objection of any senator.

Both colleagues and critics speak with admiration of Roberts' legal and leadership abilities.

As a lawyer, Roberts has frequently offered his services, at no charge, to people who need skilled legal representation. In one case in particular, he represented a group of welfare recipients in Washington, D.C., whose benefits had been cut off.

Roberts argued that the action was a violation of the Constitution, a violation of the individuals' due process.

The judge has spent considerable time supporting a program sponsored by the Supreme Court Historical Society and an organization called Street Law. The program instructs educators on law, democracy, and human rights, allowing them to bring this information back into their classrooms.

I urge the people of West Virginia to pay very close attention to the U.S. Senate while they consider Robert's nomination to ensure that recent pledges of support do not turn into broken political promises from our elected officials.

It is important that Judge Roberts receives swift action to ensure that he can begin his work on the court prior to the new session beginning in early October.

President Bush has stated that he has a constitutional responsibility to nominate to the U.S. Supreme Court individuals who understand the role of courts in our democracy and are well qualified to serve on the bench.

Roberts is an exceptional candidate to be the next chief justice. Just like every judicial nominee, he deserves a prompt up-or-down vote. The nominee for chief justice is no exception.

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