Supreme choice . . .

The Washington Times ^ | 9-23-05 | Edwin Meese III

[JZelle]

After 22 hours of testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Americans have seen a lot of chief justice nominee John Roberts. He was asked more than 500 questions -- some seemed more like speeches -- by 18 different senators about topics ranging from privacy law to court administration to his private life. By the end of the hearing, one thing was clear: John Roberts is a true conservative and a brilliant attorney whose service on the high court will be a lasting monument to President Bush. Consequently, the committee voted 13-5 yesterday to send his nomination as chief justice to the full Senate. Despite some senators' intense efforts to elicit "campaign promises" about specific past cases and current issues, Judge Roberts took the high road throughout his hearing. He refused to violate judicial ethics by prejudging numerous "hypothetical" scenarios or by committing to uphold or overturn prior high-court decisions. These actions reveal a deep respect for the rule of law and for the proper role of judges in a democratic society. Even while maintaining appropriate judicial ethics, Judge Roberts was more forthcoming than any nominee to the high court in recent memory. He ably demonstrated he is devoted to faithfully interpreting and applying the Constitution and laws as they were written. Some justices look at the law as if it were a crystal ball, seeing whatever they want to see in its "emanations" and "penumbras." John Roberts will not be that kind of justice.