Supreme Court Nominee Roberts Refuses to Answer Any Questions About Anything
WASHINGTON - During continued Senate testimony yesterday, Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts, Jr. once again refused to answer any questions about anything.
Under testy questioning from Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvalnia), Roberts was cagey.
"Judge Roberts, I think the question that is on my mind, and on the minds of many on this panel is, will you be more circumspect in appraising the reasoning methods that underpin the laws made by Congress than was your predecessor, Chief Justice Rehnquist?"
When Judge Roberts declined to respond, Senator Spector continued to speak, eventually trailing off.
After an awkward silence, Senator Specter regrouped and tried a different tack.
"Judge Roberts, would you say you are a Constitutional textualist?"
"No, sir," replied Roberts.
"Well then, how about an originalist?"
"No."
"Would your friends say you are an originalist? Has anyone ever called you that?"
Roberts sipped his water.
"Okay, let me try again," continued Specter. "The other day a friend and I were out fishing, and we got to talking about the court's ruling in Tennessee vs. Morrison. He said he thought that the court's finding that Congress' method of reasoning weakened the statute was flawed. I said I wasn't sure. What do you think, Judge Roberts?"
"With all due respect, Senator, I decline to comment on the specifics or the generalities of that case or any other."
"Judge Roberts, if you were reincarnated as an animal, what animal would you be? Would that animal ascribe to a literal interpretation of the text of the Constitution, or would it aim to interpret the Framers' intent?"
"Senator," replied Judge Roberts, "I feel that anything I say or do at this time might be prejudicial to anything I might be called upon to say or do in the future."
Specter then called a 30 minute recess. The hearings continue today.
Judge Roberts: "..."
Under testy questioning from Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvalnia), Roberts was cagey.
"Judge Roberts, I think the question that is on my mind, and on the minds of many on this panel is, will you be more circumspect in appraising the reasoning methods that underpin the laws made by Congress than was your predecessor, Chief Justice Rehnquist?"
When Judge Roberts declined to respond, Senator Spector continued to speak, eventually trailing off.
After an awkward silence, Senator Specter regrouped and tried a different tack.
"Judge Roberts, would you say you are a Constitutional textualist?"
"No, sir," replied Roberts.
"Well then, how about an originalist?"
"No."
"Would your friends say you are an originalist? Has anyone ever called you that?"
Roberts sipped his water.
"Okay, let me try again," continued Specter. "The other day a friend and I were out fishing, and we got to talking about the court's ruling in Tennessee vs. Morrison. He said he thought that the court's finding that Congress' method of reasoning weakened the statute was flawed. I said I wasn't sure. What do you think, Judge Roberts?"
"With all due respect, Senator, I decline to comment on the specifics or the generalities of that case or any other."
"Judge Roberts, if you were reincarnated as an animal, what animal would you be? Would that animal ascribe to a literal interpretation of the text of the Constitution, or would it aim to interpret the Framers' intent?"
"Senator," replied Judge Roberts, "I feel that anything I say or do at this time might be prejudicial to anything I might be called upon to say or do in the future."
Specter then called a 30 minute recess. The hearings continue today.
Judge Roberts: "..."
posted by Ish at 9:04 AM
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