Their are no "sure things" especially when discussing judges. What I have seen in his previous arguments and rulings is a man who interprets the law in a narrow and uncompromising fashion. From every indication Roberts does not legislate from the bench and personally abhors those who do.He appears to be a classic jurist in the mold of William Rehnquist.He has a tremendous amount of support from rock sold conservatives like Starr, Hewitt, Meese, Levin,Malkin, the Christian right etc etc. Are all these people wrong and Ann is the only one who sees the truth?
Ann isn't saying he isn't a conservative. She is saying that there are choices with a more lengthy judicial record that are more certain to be conservative.
BTW, what he wrote in legal briefs means nothing.