John Roberts’ opening statement

I commend to you the opening statement of Chief Justice nominee John Roberts before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

It is succinct, shorter that the opening statements of many of the senators, which says a lot about both politicians and Mr. Roberts.

But Mr. Roberts got right to the point on the role of a judge:

. . . A certain humility should characterize the judicial role.

Judges and justices are servants of the law, not the other way around. Judges are like umpires. Umpires don't make the rules; they apply them.

The role of an umpire and a judge is critical. They make sure everybody plays by the rules.

But it is a limited role. Nobody ever went to a ball game to see the umpire.


. . . We are a government of laws and not of men. It is that rule of law that protects the rights and liberties of all Americans. It is the envy of the world. Because without the rule of law, any rights are meaningless.

Amen. And because a majority of the current Supreme Court habitually put their personal opinions above the Constitution and the rule of law, our rights are being eroded. John Roberts alone can’t stop that. But appointing him and more judges like him might.