Preserve the Balance
Team Supreme Blog
Hearings Set for Roberts Nomination
After delays due to the death of Chief Justice Rehnquist, the Senate Judiciary Committee has rescheduled its hearings on Supreme Court nominee John Roberts for Monday, September 12. Senators will make their opening statements Monday afternoon and should begin their questioning of Roberts by Tuesday. These hearings are expected to last four to five days. The committee will then send its recommendation to the Senate floor for a vote. Majority Leader Bill Frist has said that he plans to finish the full Senate vote by Friday, Sept. 30, in time for Roberts to take a seat on the Court when it begins its new session on Oct. 3.
However, it is important that the hearing process be thorough and that crucial information about Roberts's record and views is made available to the American public.
Leading Democrats have promised to closely scrutinize Robert's record. The need for vigorous questioning is even more acute now that President Bush has nominated Roberts to the position of Chief Justice. The Chief Justice has several special roles that make the position even more powerful than that of an Associate Justice. For example, the Chief Justice, when voting with the majority of the Court, selects the author of the opinion, which can affect the tone and the substance of the opinion. The Chief also chairs several important committees and conferences.
HRC is pushing for thorough questioning of this 50-year-old nominee, who might lead the Court for decades to come. We are not holding our breath, however, for shocking revelations to come out of these hearings. Roberts will be well-coached and probably will not reveal much about his views during the hearings. He is unlikely to rebut the very strong evidence that he is a threat to the civil rights of GLBT Americans, but we encourage all fair-minded Americans to call upon him to prove that he will be the Chief Justice we deserve – one who will protect our constitutional rights.
HRC will keep you up to date with related developments, as well as any news about possible successors to Justice O'Connor, who has agreed to continue serving on the Court until her replacement is confirmed.
However, it is important that the hearing process be thorough and that crucial information about Roberts's record and views is made available to the American public.
Leading Democrats have promised to closely scrutinize Robert's record. The need for vigorous questioning is even more acute now that President Bush has nominated Roberts to the position of Chief Justice. The Chief Justice has several special roles that make the position even more powerful than that of an Associate Justice. For example, the Chief Justice, when voting with the majority of the Court, selects the author of the opinion, which can affect the tone and the substance of the opinion. The Chief also chairs several important committees and conferences.
HRC is pushing for thorough questioning of this 50-year-old nominee, who might lead the Court for decades to come. We are not holding our breath, however, for shocking revelations to come out of these hearings. Roberts will be well-coached and probably will not reveal much about his views during the hearings. He is unlikely to rebut the very strong evidence that he is a threat to the civil rights of GLBT Americans, but we encourage all fair-minded Americans to call upon him to prove that he will be the Chief Justice we deserve – one who will protect our constitutional rights.
HRC will keep you up to date with related developments, as well as any news about possible successors to Justice O'Connor, who has agreed to continue serving on the Court until her replacement is confirmed.
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