Since Trump isn’t the sitting President, Roberts was not needed.
Leahy is president pro tempore of the Senate which is why he is presiding as the judge. Pro tempore have served as judges in the past during impeachment trials. Constitution allows the Senate to make the rules regarding the trial. Only stipulation is the judge if impeachment involves a sitting President.
I appreciate the point, but when the bias of the “arbiter” is so blatant, it goes against every concept of fairness in any adjudication. I’d like to know if the past cases of the President Pro Tempore was of the opposing party or had a long history of hatred toward the impeachee (made that word up).
Leahy is president pro tempore of the Senate which is why he is presiding as the judge. Pro tempore have served as judges in the past during impeachment trials.
Just a minor quibble. Leahy will serve as the Presiding Officer of the Senate. When the Chief Justice crosses over to the legislature, he assumes the role of Presiding Officer of the Senate, not judge.