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'''John G. Roberts, Jr.''' (1955- ) is the 17th and current Chief Justice of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] (2005-). He was appointed by [[President]] [[George W. Bush]] to replace [[William Rehnquist]] as Chief Justice, after having served on the Court of Appeals for the [[D.C. Circuit]].  Chief Justice Roberts provided the pivotal 5th vote to uphold [[ObamaCare]] on the unexpected grounds that he found it to be a tax, rather than a proper exercise of [[Commerce Clause]] authority.

'''John G. Roberts, Jr.''' (1955- ) is the 17th and current Chief Justice of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] (2005-). He was appointed by [[President]] [[George W. Bush]] to replace [[William Rehnquist]] as Chief Justice, after having served on the Court of Appeals for the [[D.C. Circuit]].  Chief Justice Roberts provided the pivotal 5th vote to uphold [[ObamaCare]] on the unexpected grounds that he found it to be a tax, rather than a proper exercise of [[Commerce Clause]] authority.

Chief Justice John Roberts is known best for building a consensus, and writing opinions to maximize support by fellow Justices.  While other Justices often cite their own prior opinions, Chief Justice Roberts is a master at citing the decisions of fellow Justices to win their support for his opinion.  But by emphasizing consensus rather than clarity and force of an opinion, Roberts can issue a weak 6-3 or 9-0 opinion rather than a stronger 5-4 version.<ref>''See, e.g.'', ''[[Medellin v. Texas]]'' (2008).</ref>

Chief Justice John Roberts is known best for building a consensus, and writing opinions to maximize support by fellow Justices.  While other Justices often cite their own prior opinions, Chief Justice Roberts is a master at citing the decisions of fellow Justices to win their support for his opinion.  But by emphasizing consensus rather than clarity and force of an opinion, Roberts can issue a weak 6-3 or 9-0 opinion rather than a stronger 5-4 version.<ref>''See, e.g.'', ''[[Medellin v. Texas]]'' (2008).</ref>

{{cquote|'''If you watched the confirmation hearings for his nomination to be chief justice of the Supreme Court, you know why the Left hates him. Without notes, Roberts, a [[Strict constructionism|constructionist]], schooled every single one of the Judiciary Committee’s far-Left senators on constitutional jurisprudence. Having someone of his intellect, worldview and legal understanding as chief justice does wonders to protect the Constitution from those who would amend it by judicial fiat. <small>--- Town Hall Magazine</small> <ref>[http://media.glennbeck.com/docs/100americans-pg1.pdf Town Hall Magazine; The 100 Americans The Left Hates Most]</ref>}}

{{cquote|'''If you watched the confirmation hearings for his nomination to be chief justice of the Supreme Court, you know why the Left hates him. Without notes, Roberts, a [[Strict constructionism|constructionist]], schooled every single one of the Judiciary Committee’s far-Left senators on constitutional jurisprudence. Having someone of his intellect, worldview and legal understanding as chief justice does wonders to protect the Constitution from those who would amend it by judicial fiat. <small>--- Town Hall Magazine</small> <ref>[http://media.glennbeck.com/docs/100americans-pg1.pdf Town Hall Magazine; The 100 Americans The Left Hates Most]</ref>}}

==Confirmation Process==  

==Confirmation Process==  

With the death of Chief Justice [[William Rehnquist]] in 2005, President Bush withdrew Roberts' nomination for associate justice to replace Sandra Day O'Connor and renominated him for chief justice, with only a slight delay in his confirmation hearings to allow for Rehnquist's funeral services. The nomination was first considered by the 18-member Senate Judiciary Committee. On September 22, the committee voted 13-5 to send Roberts' confirmation to the full Senate, winning the support of Judiciary Committee Chairman [[Arlen Specter]] (R-Pennsylvania), and ranking minority member [[Patrick Leahy]] (D-Vermont). On September 29, Roberts was confirmed by the full Senate by a vote of 78-22. Hours after confirmation, he was sworn in by the senior associate justice, [[John Paul Stevens]] at the White House.

With the death of Chief Justice [[William Rehnquist]] in 2005, President Bush withdrew Roberts' nomination for associate justice to replace Sandra Day O'Connor and renominated him for chief justice, with only a slight delay in his confirmation hearings to allow for Rehnquist's funeral services. The nomination was first considered by the 18-member Senate Judiciary Committee. On September 22, the committee voted 13-5 to send Roberts' confirmation to the full Senate, winning the support of Judiciary Committee Chairman [[Arlen Specter]] (R-Pennsylvania), and ranking minority member [[Patrick Leahy]] (D-Vermont). On September 29, Roberts was confirmed by the full Senate by a vote of 78-22. Hours after confirmation, he was sworn in by the senior associate justice, [[John Paul Stevens]] at the White House.

===Right to Privacy===

===Right to Privacy===

Until 1965, some US states criminalized the distribution of contraceptives. In 1965 the Supreme Court in [[Griswold v. Connecticut]], ruled the laws unconstitutional because they violated the right of privacy. Roberts upheld "Griswold" at his 2005 confirmation hearings to be Chief Justice, and indicated the issue was closed.<ref> See [http://privacy-law.blogspot.com/2005/09/john-roberts-right-to-privacy-part-5.html quotations]</ref>  

Until 1965, some US states criminalized the distribution of contraceptives. In 1965 the Supreme Court in [[Griswold v. Connecticut]], ruled the laws unconstitutional because they violated the right of privacy. Roberts upheld "Griswold" at his 2005 confirmation hearings to be Chief Justice, and indicated the issue was closed.<ref> See [http://privacy-law.blogspot.com/2005/09/john-roberts-right-to-privacy-part-5.html quotations]</ref>  

::"I feel comfortable commenting on Griswold and the result in Griswold because that does not appear to me to be an area that is going to come before the court again."

::"I feel comfortable commenting on Griswold and the result in Griswold because that does not appear to me to be an area that is going to come before the court again."

[[Image:Roberts-Newsweek.jpg|175px|left]]

[[Image:Roberts-Newsweek.jpg|175px|left]]

==United States Supreme Court==

==United States Supreme Court==

In his first two years on the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], Chief Justice Roberts has written only 24 opinions, mostly on uncontroversial or simple topics.  In his first year he sought unanimity in his decisions, leading him to dilute the strength of his opinions to satisfy everyone.  For example, Chief Justice Roberts obtained unanimity on a controversial Solomon Amendment opinion by stretching to satisfy protesters against military recruiters:<ref>126 S. Ct. 1297, 1307 (2006).</ref>

In his first two years on the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], Chief Justice Roberts has written only 24 opinions, mostly on uncontroversial or simple topics.  In his first year he sought unanimity in his decisions, leading him to dilute the strength of his opinions to satisfy everyone.  For example, Chief Justice Roberts obtained unanimity on a controversial Solomon Amendment opinion by stretching to satisfy protesters against military recruiters:<ref>126 S. Ct. 1297, 1307 (2006).</ref>