Senate Confirms Roberts
Feature Story by civilrights.org staff - 9/29/2005
The Senate today confirmed (78-22) John Roberts as chief justice of the United States.Many civil rights groups, including the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), had opposed Roberts' confirmation, citing his lack of commitment to fundamental rights and freedoms.
In testimony September 15 before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Henderson said that in four days of hearings, Roberts had "failed to distance himself from the anti-civil rights positions he has advocated" and therefore LCCR was compelled to oppose his confirmation.
Henderson said that Roberts' vision for America did not match that of mainstream Americans.
LCCR expressed disappointment in Roberts' confirmation, but also the hope that his views on protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Americans have evolved since his time in the Reagan and Bush I administrations.
President Bush is expected to name a successor to retiring justice Sandra Day O'Connor soon.
"Over the last few days, some have expressed their belief that replacing Chief Justice Rehnquist with John Roberts will not fundamentally change the direction of the Court. Let us hope as senators are face to face with President Bush's next nominee that they recognize the importance of maintaining the Supreme Court's balance in the interest of all Americans," Henderson said.
