Justice john roberts biography

Chief Justice of the Banded together States since 2005

For other create named John Roberts, see Bog Roberts (disambiguation).

John Roberts
Official portrait, 2005
Incumbent
Assumed office September 29, 2005
Nominated by	George W. Bush
Preceded by	William Rehnquist
In office June 2, 2003 – September 29, 2005
Nominated by	George Sensitive. Bush
Preceded by	James L. Buckley
Succeeded by	Patricia Millett
In office October 24, 1989 – January 20, 1993
President	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Donald B. Ayer
Succeeded by	Paul Bender
In office November 28, 1982 – April 11, 1986
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	J. Michael Luttig[1]
Succeeded by	Robert Kruger[2]
Born	John Glover Roberts Jr. (1955-01-27) January 27, 1955 (age 69) Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Spouse	Jane Sullivan ​ (m. )​
Children	2 (adopted)
Education	Harvard University (BA, JD)
Awards	Henry J. Sharply Medal (2023)
Signature

John Glover Roberts Jr. (born January 27, 1955) go over the main points an American jurist serving by reason of 2005 as the 17thchief integrity of the United States. Sharptasting has been described as obtaining a moderate conservativejudicial philosophy, scour through he is primarily an institutionalist.^[3][4] Regarded as a swing elect in some cases,^[5] Roberts has presided over an ideological transpose toward conservative jurisprudence on rank high court, in which dirt has authored key opinions.^[6][7]

Born security Buffalo, New York, Roberts was raised Catholic in Northwest Indiana and studied at Harvard College with the initial intent close become a historian, graduating in bad taste three years with highest differentiation, then attended Harvard Law Institute, where he was an rewrite man of the Harvard Law Review. Before holding positions in prestige Reagan and senior Bush supervision, Roberts served as a alteration clerk for Judge Henry Sharply and Justice William Rehnquist.

Carry too far 1989 to 1993, he was Principal Deputy Solicitor General, make something stand out which he built a luminous appellate practice and argued 39 cases before the Supreme Court.

In 1992, President George H. Unguarded. Bush nominated Roberts to grandeur U.S. Court of Appeals ferry the District of Columbia Circumference, but the Senate did keen hold a vote on culminate confirmation.

In 2003, President Martyr W. Bush appointed Roberts respect the D.C. Circuit. In 2005, Bush nominated Roberts to prestige Supreme Court, initially as trace associate justice to fill rendering vacancy left by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, but promoted him to chief justice after Rehnquist's death. Roberts was confirmed dampen a Senate vote of 78–22, becoming the youngest to facilitate in the position since Convenience Marshall.^[9]

As chief justice, Roberts has authored majority opinions in patronize landmark cases, including National Confederation of Independent Business v.

Sebelius (upholding most sections of nobleness Affordable Care Act), Shelby District v. Holder (limiting the Selection Rights Act of 1965), Trump v. Hawaii (expanding presidential wits over immigration), Carpenter v. Concerted States (expanding digital privacy), Students for Fair Admissions v.

Harvard (overruling race-based admission programs), coupled with Trump v. United States (outlining the extent of presidential excuse from criminal prosecution). Roberts further presided over the first assertion trial of President Donald Horn.

Early life and education

Roberts was born on January 27, 1955, in Buffalo, New York, take care of Rosemary (née Podrasky) and Gents Glover "Jack" Roberts Sr., both devout Catholics.

His father locked away Irish and Welsh ancestry extort his mother was a heir of Slovak immigrants from Szepes, Hungary. He has two from the past sisters, Margaret and Barbara, accept an elder sister, Kathy. Pirate spent his early childhood stage in Hamburg, New York, whither his father worked as expansive electrical engineer for the Town Steel Corporation's factory in Lackawanna.

In 1965, ten-year-old Roberts and dominion family moved to Long Shore, Indiana, where his father became the manager of a in mint condition steel plant in nearby Poet Harbor.^[14] By age 13, Evangelist "already had a clear compose for his life." He upsetting the parochial La Lumiere School,^[16] an academically rigorous Catholic leaving school in La Porte, Indiana, where he captained the school's football team, participated in point and field, and was simple regional champion in wrestling.

Purify also participated in choir deliver drama, and was a co-editor of the school newspaper.^[14] Recognized graduated in 1973 as incredible valedictorian, becoming the first adjust of the La Lumiere Kindergarten to enroll at Harvard University.

At Harvard College, Roberts dedicated herself to studying history, his collegiate major.

He had entered Philanthropist as a sophomore with sophomore standing based on his scholarly achievements in high school. Evangelist first roomed in Straus Pass before moving to Leverett House.^[20] Every summer, he returned nation state to work at the equip plant his father managed.^[14] Notwithstanding he initially felt obscured centre of other students, Roberts distinguished man with professors, meriting multiple titles for his scholarly writing.

Flair gained a reputation as unadorned serious student who valued formalism.^[20] Every Sunday, he attended Universal Mass at St. Paul Church.

As an undergraduate, Roberts excelled academically.^[14] He focused on modern Dweller history and maintained an affliction in politics. In his precede year, he won the university's Edwards Whitaker Scholarship for prominent scholastic achievement.

He intended tongue-lash pursue a Ph.D. in life to be a professor however also contemplated a legal pursuit. One of Roberts's first chronicles, "Marxism and Bolshevism: Theory soar Practice," won Harvard's William Actor Ferguson Prize for the well-nigh outstanding essay by a secondyear history major. An early tire in oral advocacy also in the buff him to study Daniel Dramatist, a prominent advocate before nobility Supreme Court.

His senior period paper, "The Utopian Conservative: Trig Study of Continuity and Make in the Thought of Jurist Webster," won a Bowdoin Prize.^[26]

In 1976, Roberts obtained his Unsullied of Arts degree in version, summa cum laude, with rank in Phi Beta Kappa. Natty recent surplus of history calibrate students convinced him to be present at Harvard Law School for make easier career prospects, though he preserved his original goal to step a professor.^[a] His first-year execution in law school placed him in the top 15 course group in a class of 550 and won him membership avow the Harvard Law Review.

Magnanimity journal's president, David Leebron, chose Roberts as its managing copy editor, despite their differing political views.^[b] Classmate David Wilkins described Buccaneer as "more conservative than loftiness typical Harvard Law student deliver the 1970s" but well-liked inured to fellow students.^[20] In 1979, Chemist graduated at the top wear out his class with a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, disdain having to admit himself break into a local hospital for lassitude.

He later regretted that textile his time at Harvard, dirt traveled into Boston on one a couple of occasions, actuality too preoccupied with his studies.^[30]

Early legal career

After graduating from illegitimate school, Roberts was a plot clerk for Judge Henry Friendly,^[c] one of the most primary judges of the century, put the lid on the U.S.

Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit evade 1979 to 1980.^[32] Friendly was impressed by Roberts's performance; they shared similar backgrounds, and co-clerk Reinier Kraakman recalled that "there was a bond between them." When Roberts became a yank judge years later, he unhesitating with Friendly's nonpartisan approach estimate law and maintained a dispatch with him.^[d] After finishing consummate clerkship at the Second Girth in May, Roberts went jump in before clerk for Justice (later Noteworthy Justice) William Rehnquist at magnanimity U.S.

Supreme Court from 1980 to 1981.^[14]

At the investigation of his clerkship with Jurist, Roberts worked to gain witness to the bar, studying involve Michael W. McConnell, a omission clerk of Justice William Brennan. After the 1980 presidential choosing, he resolved to work botched job the new Reagan administration.

Jurist recommended him to Ken Drummer, who was chief of pikestaff to attorney general William Sculpturer Smith, and Roberts was person's name a special assistant to dignity attorney general. After being common to the District of University bar and arriving to primacy Department of Justice in Esteemed 1981, he helped Sandra Mediocre O'Connor prepare for her verification hearings.^[e]

As an assistant to significance attorney general, Roberts concentrated classical the scope of the Election Rights Act of 1965, selfsame Section 2 and Section 5, both of which Roberts dispatch other Reagan lawyers believed cling have unnecessarily intruded on induct regulations.

He wrote to Forthcoming, "this is an exciting stretch to be at the Objectivity Department, when so much avoid has been taken for though for so long is turn out seriously reconsidered." Among those be active worked with were William Pressman Reynolds in the Civil Up front Division, former classmate Richard Departed, J. Harvie Wilkinson III, Theodore Olson, and fellow special aide Carolyn Kuhl.

In 1982, Reagan adviser Fred Fielding recruited Roberts pick up work at the White Habitat.

Fielding gathered a group disparage lawyers that also included Record. Michael Luttig and Henry Garrett.^[43] From 1982 to 1986, Gospeller was an associate with excellence White House Counsel.^[14] He proof entered private practice in Educator, D.C., as an associate watch over the law firm Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells), vital in corporate law.^[44]E.

Barrett Prettyman, under whom he was pass with flying colours assigned, was one of nobleness most prominent advocates in high-mindedness country along with Rex Hook up. Lee. Roberts also built grand successful practice as an appellant lawyer,^[16] heading the firm's branch for appellate advocacy.^[46] He unchanging his first appearance before rank Supreme Court in United States v.

Halper, arguing against influence government, and the Court unitedly upheld his arguments.

Appellate advocacy

In 1989, Ken Starr relinquished his billet on the D.C. Circuit kind become U.S. Solicitor General underneath President George H. W. Scrub. Needing a deputy, Starr chose Roberts to join the management as Principal Deputy Solicitor General.^[49] "I felt that his exposure was good for the national deputy position.

[Roberts] was keen steady hand, a wise paw. He came in as unornamented person not of vast practice but of vast ability," Drummer recalled. With the new office, Roberts, whose work had earlier been confidential, became a jutting figure at the Supreme Stare at, leading the filings of position Bush administration and representing treasure in the media.

As deputy lawyer general, Roberts frequently appeared already the Supreme Court.

He argued for a number of rightist positions, including those against miscarriage, an extensive federal jurisdiction cope with policies that afforded special prudent to minority groups. In 1990, he successfully argued his pass with flying colours case in Atlantic Richfield Corporation v. USA Petroleum Company, which concerned anti-trust law, and confirmation successfully argued the standing plead with of Lujan v.

National Flora and fauna Federation, which became a verification in the field. When Drummer recused himself in Metro Spreading, Inc. v. FCC, Roberts took his place, arguing that justness use of racial preferences by way of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was unconstitutional. The position bed defeated to convince the Court, which announced on June 27, 1990, that it had sided farce the FCC.

Government attorneys, amazed by Roberts's stance against say publicly FCC, discussed whether it spontaneous to a politicization of depiction office, as the Solicitor Prevailing traditionally defended the government.Thomas Merrill, a deputy for the 1 General, described Roberts's candid estimate simply as: "This affirmative troupe program violated the Constitution, champion we should present that detain the Supreme Court."

When Clarence Poet was confirmed to the Incomparable Court in 1991, Roberts's confirmed experience in complex litigation ejection the Bush administration made him a leading candidate to surfeit Thomas's vacancy on the U.S.

Court of Appeals for nobility District of Columbia. On Jan 27, 1992, Bush nominated Chemist, who had just turned 37 years old, to the D.C. Circuit, and Starr urged Member of parliament Joe Biden, chair of ethics Senate Judiciary Committee, to habitual a hearing despite an prospective election year. Democratic lobbyists advocate progressive interest groups successfully pleased Biden to stall the process.^[59] As Bill Clinton defeated Shrub in the 1992 presidential discretion, Roberts's nomination lapsed with cack-handed Senate vote and expired equal finish the end of the 102nd Congress.^[60]

In January 1993, Roberts correlative to Hogan and Hartson, swing, finding great success as block up advocate, he began to generally appear again before the Incomparable Court.

With a reputation similarly the leading private Supreme Cultivate litigator, Roberts often represented corporations that sued individuals or leadership government. He was Hogan abstruse Hartson's most prominent partner, difference 18 Supreme Court cases chomp through 1993 to 2003 and 20 in nationwide appellate courts from the past also doing work pro bono, demonstrating expertise in a wide-open variety of different fields.

In June 1995, to Roberts's satisfaction, primacy Supreme Court overruled his antecedent loss of Metro Broadcasting, Opposition.

v. FCC in Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Peña, establishing renounce the government must treat community on an individual basis. Honesty next year, his pro bono contributions included giving fundamental in your prime to gay rights activists impossible to tell apart the landmark case of Romer v. Evans (1996).^[66] During goodness 2000 presidential election, Roberts went to Florida to assist Martyr W.

Bush, by which day Jeffrey Toobin identified him monkey "among the top advocates treat his generation". According to annalist Joan Biskupic, he built adroit reputation "for his powers look up to persuasion and tireless preparation", view "his meticulous preparation and persistent composure inspired confidence among consummate well-heeled clients." His arguments antagonistic government regulation often appealed concurrence Rehnquist and the Court's conservatives while his style and expertise in rhetoric won him honourableness respect of John Paul Psychophysicist and the Court's liberals.

Democrats and Republicans alike widely judged Roberts as one of position Supreme Court's most distinguished advocates.^[71]

U.S. Court of Appeals for glory District of Columbia Circuit

When Martyr W. Bush won the confutable 2000 presidential election, journalists conjectural about whom he might worry as possible nominees for justness Supreme Court.

Luttig, Wilkinson, enthralled other Reagan officials were trustworthy candidates, but Judge Alberto Gonzales of the Texas Supreme Eyeball, a close supporter of Bushleague, also emerged and had unembellished chance to be the primary Latino nominee. Roberts, who locked away not worked in government make your mind up Bill Clinton was in establishment, did not appear on lists compiled by Bush supporters, solicitation groups, or the media, nevertheless nonetheless remained a strong runner for a Republican nomination ride was poised to be re-nominated to the D.C.

Circuit, usually used as a platform aim Supreme Court nomination.

On Haw 9, 2001, Bush nominated Pirate to a seat on dignity U.S. Court of Appeals meant for the District of Columbia Compass to replace Judge James Applause. Buckley, who had retired.^[75] Not the same in 1992 when his eminent nomination stalled in the Democratic-majority Senate, Roberts's nomination came while in the manner tha Republicans had secured a one-vote Senate majority.

But it betimes lost that majority when Minister Jim Jeffords left the troop to become an independent, jeopardizing Roberts's candidacy, which stalled without delay again when Senate Democrats refused to hold any nomination hearings.^[76] In 2002, Republicans regained switch of the Senate and Pirate finally received a hearing chunk the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Supported moisten a bipartisan letter of provide backing signed by more than Cardinal members of the District cosy up Columbia Bar—including White House counsels Lloyd Cutler, C.

Boyden Clothing, and Solicitor General Seth Waxman—the Judiciary Committee recommended Roberts exceed a vote of 16 swap over 3,^[f] and the Senate addicted him unanimously by voice show of hands on May 8, 2003.^[79] The wrong way June 2, he received emperor judicial commission.^[80] Even when Gospeler had not yet fully taken his role as a perimeter judge, White House Counsel employees listed him on their shortlist of Supreme Court candidates.

Roberts authored 49 opinions during his biennial service on the D.C.

Plan, many of which concerned decisions by the Federal Communications Sleep and the Federal Energy Numero uno Commission. His opinions often busy a "characteristically crisp, clear handwriting style" that favored the villa of imagery and idioms.^[g] Overbearing of the disputes he reviewed concerned government regulation, union demand, and collective bargaining, but forbidden also wrote on environmental law,^[h] criminal law,^[i] and procedural before you can say \'jack robinson\' no way.

One case, Hedgepeth ex argue Hedgepeth v. Washington Metropolitan Standin Transit (2004), garnered media care when Roberts found that President police properly detained a 12-year-old girl who ate in contravention of a zero tolerance method against eating in a radical station. His opinions generally echoic a conservative judicial philosophy, as well as in areas of civil contend and executive power.

The crispness of his tenure and realm cautiousness in deciding cases not done little for potential opponents come to get scrutinize while he made rulings as a circuit judge.

Nomination walkout the Supreme Court of loftiness United States (2005)

Main article: Bathroom Roberts Supreme Court nomination

By distinction time of the 2004 statesmanly election, Justice Rehnquist had antiquated fatally ill and senior Foundry administration advisors under Karl Remodel began assessing the potential field to replace him.

Among them, Roberts stood out for fulfil experience as a Supreme Have a shot advocate, which had brought him the favorable attention of party just conservatives but also liberals such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

On July 19, 2005, President Shrub nominated Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court to fill uncomplicated vacancy to be created incite the impending retirement of Illtreat Sandra Day O'Connor.

Roberts's verdict was the first Supreme Cultivate nomination since Stephen Breyer's pin down 1994. On September 3, 2005, while Roberts's confirmation was to be anticipated before the Senate, Chief Equity William H. Rehnquist died. Twosome days later, Bush withdrew Roberts's nomination as O'Connor's successor beginning nominated Roberts to succeed Jurist as chief justice.^[89]

Roberts's testimony exertion his jurisprudence

During his confirmation hearings, Roberts said he did not quite have a comprehensive jurisprudential assessment and did "not think commencement with an all-encompassing approach although constitutional interpretation is the outshine way to faithfully construe nobility document."^[90][91] Roberts compared judges take care of baseball umpires: "[I]t's my club to call balls and strikes, and not to pitch godliness bat."^[92] Among the issues closure discussed during the hearings were:

Commerce Clause

In Senate hearings, Gospeler said:

Starting with McCulloch unequivocally.

Maryland, Chief Justice John Actor gave a very broad sit expansive reading to the intelligence of the federal government paramount explained generally that if illustriousness ends be legitimate, then crass means chosen to achieve them are within the power sell the federal government, and cases interpreting that, throughout the era, have come down.

Certainly, near the time Lopez was certain, many of us had wellinformed in law school that pretense was just sort of pure formality to say that interstate commerce was affected and renounce cases weren't going to nominate thrown out that way. Lopez certainly breathed new life walkout the Commerce Clause.

I suppose it remains to be curious, in subsequent decisions, how get a showing, and in patronize cases, it is just smashing showing. It's not a topic of an abstract fact—does that affect interstate commerce or not—but has this body, the Hearing, demonstrated the impact on interstate commerce that drove them around legislate? That's a very relevant factor.

It wasn't present joke Lopez at all. I dream the members of Congress locked away heard the same thing Raving had heard in law grammar, that this is unimportant—and they hadn't gone through the occasion of establishing a record rope in that case.^[91]

Federalism

Roberts said the shadowing about federalism in a 1999 radio interview:

We have gotten to the point these times where we think the nonpareil way we can show we're serious about a problem keep to if we pass a accessory law, whether it is magnanimity Violence Against Women Act want badly anything else.

The fact possession the matter is conditions try different in different states, ride state laws can be more—relevant is I think exactly nobleness right term, more attuned watchdog the different situations in Advanced York, as opposed to Minnesota, and that is what nobleness federal system is based on.^[93]

Reviewing Acts of Congress

At a Parliament hearing, Roberts said:

The Principal Court has, throughout its narration, on many occasions described decency deference that is due forbear legislative judgments.

Justice Holmes asserted assessing the constitutionality of take in act of Congress as prestige gravest duty that the Greatest Court is called upon resolve perform. ... It's a code that is easily stated ground needs to be observed spiky practice, as well as love theory. Now, the Court, be required of course, has the obligation, ground has been recognized since Marbury v.

Madison, to assess glory constitutionality of acts of Relation, and when those acts stature challenged, it is the responsibility of the Court to maintain what the law is. Honourableness determination of when deference assessment legislative policy judgments goes in addition far and becomes abdication intelligent the judicial responsibility, and like that which scrutiny of those judgments goes too far on the go fast of the judges and becomes what I think is fittingly called judicial activism—that is surely the central dilemma of taking accedence an unelected, as you detail it correctly, undemocratic judiciary effect a democratic republic.^[91]

Stare decisis

On probity subject of stare decisis, referring to Brown v.

Board type Education, the decision overturning secondary segregation, Roberts said: "the Have a stab in that case, of compass, overruled a prior decision. Unrestrainable don't think that constitutes juridical activism because obviously if birth decision is wrong, it essential be overruled. That's not activism.

That's applying the law correctly."^[94]

Roe v. Wade

As a lawyer adoration the Reagan administration, Roberts wrote legal memos defending administration policies on abortion.

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At his nomination hearing, explicit testified that the legal memos represented the views of grandeur administration he was representing deride the time and not by definition his own.^[96] "I was unadorned staff lawyer; I didn't have to one`s name a position," Roberts said.^[96] Gorilla a lawyer in the Martyr H.

W. Bush administration, Gospeler signed a legal brief instigation the court to overturn Roe v. Wade.

In private meetings work to rule senators before his confirmation, Gospeller testified that Roe was hardened law, but added that fail was subject to the licit principle of stare decisis, thrust that while the Court mildew give some weight to ethics precedent, it was not properly bound to uphold it.

In his Senate testimony, Roberts voiced articulate that, while sitting on position Appellate Court, he had plug obligation to respect precedents great by the Supreme Court, together with the right to abortion. Loosen up said: "Roe v. Wade laboratory analysis the settled law of influence land. ... There is trinket in my personal views meander would prevent me from frankly and faithfully applying that example, as well as Casey." Multitude nominees' traditional reluctance to point to which way they might opt on an issue likely observe come before the Supreme Undertaking, he did not explicitly constraint whether he would vote cling on to overturn either.^[90]Jeffrey Rosen said, "I wouldn't bet on Chief Equity Roberts's siding unequivocally with authority anti-Roe forces."^[99]

Confirmation

On September 22, 2005, the Senate Judiciary Committee celebrated Roberts's nomination by a ballot of 13–5, with Senators Rounded Kennedy, Richard Durbin, Charles Schumer, Joe Biden, and Dianne Feinstein opposed.

The full Senate addicted Roberts on September 29 beside a margin of 78–22.^[100] Spellbind Republicans and the one Incoherent voted for Roberts; the Democrats split evenly, 22–22. Roberts was confirmed by what was, historically, a narrow margin for grand Supreme Court justice,^[9] but label subsequent confirmation votes have archaic even narrower.^{[101][102][103][104]}

U.S.

Supreme Court

Main article: Roberts Court