Judiciary panel sends Roberts’ nomination to Senate floor
- Sep 30, 2005
Three Democrats joined the 10 Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee to approve the nomination of John Roberts as chief justice of the United States in a 13-5 vote Sept. 22. The panel’s action sends Roberts’ nomination to the Senate floor, where he is expected to receive at least 60 votes during the week of Sept. 26-30.
If confirmed, Roberts will become the 17^th^ chief justice, succeeding William Rehnquist, who died Sept. 3 after a lengthy battle with thyroid cancer. Unless Senate action is delayed, Roberts will be confirmed in time to sit on the Supreme Court when it begins oral arguments in the new term Oct. 3.
While the Senate nears confirmation of Roberts, it awaits the next high court nominee from President Bush. Retiring Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor has agreed to remain on the bench while another nominee goes through the confirmation process. Bush reportedly will announce his selection soon. His announcement is likely to set off an even more contentious debate over a replacement for O’Connor, who, unlike Rehnquist, is not considered a conservative.
Democratic Sens. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Russ Feingold and Herbert Kohl, both of Wisconsin, joined the Judiciary Committee’s Republicans in voting for Roberts. Voting against the nominee were Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, Joseph Biden of Delaware, Dianne Feinstein of California, Charles Schumer of New York and Richard Durbin of Illinois.
Social conservatives applauded the committee’s vote and continued to provide widespread support to Roberts, though the former aide in the Reagan and first Bush administrations has not committed himself on the Roe v. Wade opinion legalizing abortion. Pro-life and pro-family advocates, including Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Richard Land, mostly have affirmed Roberts because of the judicial philosophy he has expressed. During the committee’s hearings, Roberts said judges should have a “limited” role and endorsed “judicial restraint.”
Jan LaRue, Concerned Women for America’s chief counsel, said Roberts’ confirmation vote should be “overwhelming.”
“Only those willing to jump off a political cliff by joining hands with the die-hard abortion, gay rights and environmental groups can be expected to oppose this supremely qualified nominee,” LaRue said.
Roberts, 50, has served on the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals since 2003 and at onetime was a clerk for Rehnquist.
You may contact your senators about the confirmation vote by calling the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or by emailing them through the ERLC’s website.
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