Nominee would be fourth Catholic justice on current court

Published: 2005-07-20

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Judge John G. Roberts would become the fourth Catholic member of the current Supreme Court if he is confirmed by the Senate for the opening created by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement. Roberts, 50, was nominated July 19 by President George W. Bush, who called him "a man of extraordinary accomplishment and ability" who has "a good heart." Roberts has been a judge of the federal appeals court for the District of Columbia for two years, after working in private practice in Washington and as a U.S. deputy solicitor general from 1989 to 1993. He also served as a clerk for Chief Justice William Rehnquist. During the Reagan administration, he was an aide to White House counsel Fred Fielding and to Attorney General William French Smith. While in private practice, he was among the legal advisers for Bush during the 2000 battle over Florida's disputed presidential election results. In private practice for Hogan and Hartson, and at the Justice Department, he regularly wrote briefs on cases before the Supreme Court and has argued cases there dozens of times.

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