John Roberts Confirmed

On September 29, 2005 the Senate of the United States confirmed its 17th Supreme Court Justice, John G. Robert Jr. He was nominated by President Bush on July 19, 2005 in order to fill the expected vacancy left by the retirement of Associate Justice Sandra Day’ O’Conner. After the untimely death of our 16th Supreme Court Justice, William H. Rehnquist on September 3rd, President Bush has moved Roberts from that Associate position to the Chief Justice seat where he has now come into commission. Justice Robert’s inauguration also marks the opening of the Supreme Court’s 2005-06 term. He was voted in by a surprising 77-28 majority vote, including 2 Yea’s from our democratic Connecticut Senators Dodd and Liebermann, and two Nay’s from New York Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer. All Republican Senators voted in favor of Roberts, as well as 22 Democrats and the Independent.
To date, Justice Roberts has presided over several case arguments which show a basic difference of his views compared with his predecessor. These cases including an overturned appeals case, Richards v. Prairie Band Pottawatomie Nation, involving State’s rights to tax motor oil distributed to neighboring Indian Reservations. One of the most controversial cases to date was Gonzales v. Oregon, which contested Attorney General John D. Ashcroft’s statement that threatens punishment of any Oregon doctor who prescribes a lethal dose of federally controlled drugs to help a terminally ill patient end his or her own life. Oregon enacted its law permitting such prescriptions in 1997, and the state says it falls within its traditional prerogative to regulate the practice of medicine. Roberts is seen as likely voting against the practice of physician assisted suicide based on his strict questioning of Oregon’s senior and assistant attorney general, Robert M. Atkinson, arguing in favor of the state law. Although it is too early to be certain, Roberts’s views may mark a new less conservatively based court and more certrist view of American law.Roberts’ induction at the age of 50 makes him the youngest Chief Justice since John Marshall. He has received more Senate votes supporting his nomination than any other nominee for Chief Justice in American history. The wide appeal of his character, intelligence and personality are reasons for his grand acceptance. CNN reported, “Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Delaware, told Roberts that questioning him “is like pitching to Ken Griffey [the Cincinnati Reds star].” Several politicians say the Roberts will have a notable impact on our country in areas pertaining to state vs. federal rights. He is an interesting addition to American Judicial legislate. How he will impact our lives is up for ‘review.’