Posted on 09/06/2005 10:52:00 AM PDT by SmithL
John Roberts is in line to become not only Chief Justice William Rehnquist's successor but also the standard-bearer for Rehnquist's judicial doctrines.
One of the recurrent themes of Rehnquist's career, as a lawyer in the Justice Department and in his 33 years on the Supreme Court, was deference to executive authority -- that judges shouldn't second-guess the president, particularly in security-related matters.
Roberts has consistently taken the same position, as a government lawyer for two Republican administrations and in perhaps the most important ruling of his two-plus years as a judge. That ruling, written by another judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., and joined by Roberts, upheld President Bush's authority to try an al Qaeda suspect before a military commission, without having to follow the rules of the Geneva Conventions.
The case -- decided July 15, the same day Bush interviewed Roberts for a vacancy on the court -- suggests that Roberts, like Rehnquist, would be receptive to the president's view that courts should limit their scrutiny of efforts to combat terrorism.
Rehnquist was also the court's leading proponent of federalism, a doctrine of limited congressional power and expanded authority for the states in fields that included land-use regulation and civil rights. Roberts' record in that area is sketchier but -- judging from his opinion in a well-publicized environmental law case -- seems consistent with the views of the late chief justice, who died Saturday at age 80.
Roberts, 50, was one of Rehnquist's law clerks in 1980-81 and considered him a mentor.
The selection of Roberts is "as close to cloning Chief Justice Rehnquist (as possible)," Santa Clara University law Professor Gerald Uelmen said at a recent panel discussion.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
We know this.
A tremendous compliment for Roberts
A mirror image is reversed.
I'm glad you pointed that out. A "mirror image" suggests he is the exact opposite of Rehnquist. These days journalist means "not too bright."
Yes. But as a replacement for Rhenquist, Roberts doesn't advance the ball for us at all; Rhenquist's death is a loss to overcome, not an opportunity.
"Yes. But as a replacement for Rhenquist, Roberts doesn't advance the ball for us at all; Rhenquist's death is a loss to overcome, not an opportunity."
Correct. But few, if any, men or women in our nations history could match the greatness of our late Chief Justice in fairness and applicability of law.
I would be satisfied to not "advance the ball"
I've been saying here that Roberts should be more or less similar to Rhenquist as a Justice.
Which wouldn't be half bad!
You are right. A mirror image is reversed.
i dont think basic science i taught in schools anymore.
Not so fast. I Roberts parts his hair on the wrong side of his head, I'm writing my congressman!
....and in the case of the clintoons doesn't exist
Maybe you just need a different mirror - image.
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