Posted on 05/01/2006 1:32:54 PM PDT by RWR8189
The stars must have been aligned that January morning in 1955 when John G. Roberts Jr. was born in Buffalo, N.Y., because almost everything thereafter led him straight to the Supreme Court of the U.S. He graduated from Harvard College, then excelled at Harvard Law School as well as in his work at the U.S. Attorney General's office. It was there that our paths first crossed, for he helped prepare briefing papers for my confirmation hearings to the Supreme Court in 1981. He was later a successful litigator and partner at the Washington firm of Hogan & Hartson. He argued 39 cases in the Supreme Court and was highly regarded as one of the best advocates in the history of the court.
When I announced my retirement, Roberts, now 51, was nominated by President Bush to fill my seat. When Chief Justice William Rehnquist died last September, Roberts' nomination as Associate Justice was withdrawn, and he was nominated to fill the vacancy for Chief Justice. He did a masterful job navigating the always perilous waters of the confirmation process. He took his seat as Chief Justice on Sept. 29. It was a momentous day for the country.
As Justice Byron White used to say, the arrival of a new Justice creates an entirely new court. This is particularly true when the new Justice is also the new Chief Justice. The new Chief can bring tremendous changes in the operations of the court, from the way cases are discussed and opinions written to the very guiding ethos and atmosphere. Few have made the transition as seamlessly and effectively as Roberts. He knew our traditions well, as he had clerked in 1980 for then Associate Justice Rehnquist. His sense of humor and articulate nature and calm demeanor combine to make him a very effective Chief. I'm certain he will serve a long tenure in the role and be an effective leader not only for the Supreme Court but for all the federal courts in the nation.
O'Connor was a Supreme Court Associate Justice 1981-2006
That is the best opinion Sandra has written in quite a while.
Heh...
In that case, let's hope for no more Ruth "Buzzy" Gingsberg appointments.
No words from Sandy about Alito?
She wishes he "was a women".
I dunno...I liked her dissent in Kelo, granted dissent's don't count for much
SIDE NOTE: I think it's funny that Anna Nicole Smith's case was heard by Supreme Court. Mostly men, want a BEAUTIFUL woman to come and talk to them for a while...
What about all the T.V. reports that say they heard her case?
Anna Nicole sat in the back of the court room and quietly wept during the arguments, according to the news babe on Fox this AM. Her attorneys made her presentation and her step son's attorneys offered the objections to her claim. According to the news babe (who was present at the time) the step son's attorneys were not very credible -- thus Ms Smith's side won.
What she won was the chance to have her case heard.
What?! Justice Sandra Day O'Connor renders this opinion without regard to Foreign Court Decisions. She is slipping in retirement.
Thanks for the post. Very informative.
Thanks for the post...
BTTT
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