WASHINGTON, JULY 19,
2005--
The Heritage Foundation's Center for Legal and
Judicial Studies, Chairman Edwin Meese III, Director Todd Gaziano
and Senior Legal Fellow Paul Rosenzweig, tonight issued the
following statement on John G. Roberts, President Bush's new
Supreme Court nominee:
"President Bush promised the American
people that he would nominate Supreme Court justices who would not
legislate from the bench and would be in the mold of Clarence
Thomas and Antonin Scalia.
"He has fulfilled that promise tonight,
with the selection of a judge of unquestionable integrity and
proven fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law.
"In addition, John Roberts brings a
wealth of valuable experience beyond his years on the bench that
will be helpful to the Supreme Court's deliberations. Indeed,
Roberts's life experiences make him a uniquely well-qualified
nominee for the high court.
"As a former principal deputy solicitor
general, associate White House counsel and other positions spanning
two administrations, Roberts has a keen knowledge of the government
and the federal justice system. As a distinguished private
practitioner and Supreme Court advocate, Roberts also understands
how the law affects the lives of ordinary Americans and our
productive enterprises.
"We are proud to have worked with him
during his time in government and when he was a private
practitioner at Hogan & Hartson. We are confident his service
on the Supreme Court will be a distinguished one that will make all
Americans proud.
"The president has done his duty with
great care and promptness. Now, it's the Senate's turn. The
American people will rightly demand that senators conduct
themselves expeditiously and with civility as they carry out their
constitutional 'advice and consent' responsibilities.
"We are confident that they will do so to allow the new justice
to take his seat on the bench by the first Monday of October."