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PRESIDENT BUSH: Good evening. One of the most consequential decisions
a president makes is his appointment of a justice to the Supreme Court.
When a president chooses a justice, he's placing in human hands the
authority and majesty of the law. The decisions of the Supreme Court
affect the life of every American.
And so, a nominee to that court must be a person of superb credentials
and the highest integrity, a person who will faithfully apply the Constitution
and keep our founding promise of equal justice under law. I have found
such a person in Judge John Roberts. And tonight I am honored to announce
that I am nominating him to serve as associate justice of the Supreme
Court.
John Roberts currently serves on one of the most influential courts
in the nation, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit. Before he was a respected judge, he was known as one
of the most distinguished and talented attorneys in America. John Roberts
has devoted his entire professional life to the cause of justice and
is widely admired for his intellect, his sound judgment and personal
decency.
Judge Roberts was born in Buffalo and grew up in Indiana. In high school
he captained his football team, and he worked summers in a steel mill
to help pay his way through college. He's an honors graduate of both
Harvard College and Harvard Law School.
In his career, he has served as a law clerk to Justice William Rehnquist,
as an associate counsel to President Ronald Reagan and as the principal
deputy solicitor general in the Department of Justice.
In public service and in private practice, he has argued 39 cases before
the Supreme Court and earned a reputation as one of the best legal minds
of his generation.
Judge Roberts has earned the respect of people from both political parties.
After he was nominated for the Court of Appeals in 2001, a bipartisan
group of more than 150 lawyers sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary
Committee. They wrote, "Although as individuals we reflect a wide
spectrum of political party affiliation and ideology, we are united
in our belief that John Roberts will be an outstanding federal court
appeals (sic) judge and should be confirmed by the United States Senate."
The signers of this letter included a former counsel to a Republican
president, a former counsel to two Democratic presidents, and a former
-- and former high-ranking Justice Department officials of both parties.
My decision to nominate Judge Roberts to the Supreme Court came after
a thorough and deliberative process. My staff and I consulted with more
than 70 members of the United States Senate. I received good advice
from both Republicans and Democrats. I appreciate the care they took.
I'm grateful for their advice. I reviewed the credentials of many well-qualified
men and women. I met personally with a number of potential nominees.
In my meetings with Judge Roberts I have been deeply impressed. He's
a man of extraordinary accomplishment and ability. He has a good heart.
He has the qualities Americans expect in a judge: experience, wisdom,
fairness and civility. He has profound respect for the rule of law and
for the liberties guaranteed to every citizen. He will strictly apply
the Constitution and laws -- not legislate from the bench.
He's also a man of character who loves his country and his family. I'm
pleased that his wife Jane and his two beautiful children, Jack and
Josie, could be with us tonight. Judge Roberts has served his fellow
citizens well, and he is prepared for even greater service.
Under the Constitution, Judge Roberts now goes before the United States
Senate for confirmation. I have recently spoken with leaders Senator
Frist and Senator Reid, and with senior members of the Judiciary Committee
-- Chairman Specter and Senator Leahy. These senators share my goal
of a dignified confirmation process that is conducted with fairness
and civility. The appointments of the two most recent justices to the
Supreme Court prove that this confirmation can be done in a timely manner.
So I have full confidence that the Senate will rise to the occasion
and act promptly on this nomination.
It is important that the newest justice be on the bench when the Supreme
Court reconvenes in October. I believe that Democrat and Republicans
alike will see the strong qualifications of this fine judge, as they
did when they confirmed him by unanimous consent to the judicial seat
he now holds. I look forward to the Senate voting to confirm Judge John
Roberts as the 109th justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Judge Roberts, thank you for agreeing to serve, and
congratulations.
JUDGE ROBERTS: Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you.
Thank you very much. It is both an honor and very humbling to be nominated
to serve on the Supreme Court. Before I became a judge, my law practice
consisted largely of arguing cases before the court. That experience
left me with a profound appreciation for the role of the court in our
constitutional democracy and a deep regard for the court as an institution.
I always got a lump in my throat whenever I walked up those marble steps
to argue a case before the court, and I don't think it was just from
the nerves.
I am very grateful for the confidence the president has shown in nominating
me, and I look forward to the next step in the process before the United
States Senate.
It's also appropriate for me to acknowledge that I would not be standing
here today if it were not for the sacrifice and help of of my parents,
Jack and Rosemary Roberts; my three sisters, Kathy, Peggy and Barbara;
and of course my wife, Jane. And I also want to acknowledge my children
-- my daughter, Josie; my son, Jack -- who remind me every day why it's
so important for us to work to preserve the institutions of our democracy.
Thank you again very much.
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