Hour-Long Special on John Roberts, Nominee to Be Supreme Court Chief Justice

by Democracy Now (ONLINE ONLY)

Mon, Sep 5, 2005 9:02AM

In this hour-long online special we examine the legal background and history of Judge John Roberts. Earlier today President Bush nominated Roberts to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court replacing the late William Rehnquist, who died at the age of 80 on Saturday.

Today we spend the hour on John Roberts, going back through Democracy Now!’s coverage of his record. We speak with:

* Nancy Northup, President of the Center for Reproductive Rights
* Gary Marx, Judicial Confirmation Network
* Ralph Neas, People for the American Way
* Jamin Raskin, American University Law professor and author of "Overruling Democracy."
* Alfred Ross, the founder and President of the Institute for Democracy Studies
* Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader
* David Luban, Georgetown University Law Professor, He co-wrote an article for the online magazine, Slate, entitled “Improper Advances: Talking Dream Jobs with the Judge Out of Court.”
* Michael Ratner, President of the Center for Constitutional Rights.

LISTEN ONLINE
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/05/1551208

§More

by Democracy Now (reposted)

Tue, Sep 6, 2005 8:08AM

With the eyes of the nation firmly focused on the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, there have been major developments in the battle over the future of the Supreme Court with the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist and President Bush's decision to nominate John Roberts to replace him. We speak with Bruce Shapiro of The Nation and Michael Ratner of the Center for Constitutional Rights. With the eyes of the nation firmly focused on the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, there have been major developments in the battle over the future of the Supreme Court. Last weekend, the ailing Chief Justice, William Rehnquist, passed away leaving a vacancy at the helm of one of the 3 branches of the government.

President Bush moved quickly in naming his desired replacement for Rehnquist: Judge John Roberts - the man Bush had already selected to fill Sandra Day O'Connor's seat. The 50-year-old Roberts had been set to face Senators this week in what was expected to be a highly confrontational confirmation hearing. Senators have just postponed that process. The Supreme Court now has two vacancies giving President Bush major power to shape its political composition for decades to come.

* Bruce Shapiro, contributing editor for The Nation and a national correspondent for Salon.com.
* Michael Ratner, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights.

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/06/149245

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