The Senate confirmation hearings are now underway for future Chief Justice Roberts. It is theatre but a purposeful and powerful play nonetheless. Do the elected officials in the Senate do a service to our separation of powers by asserting that Judge Roberts must share his views on controversial issues that are divisive even among constitutional law scholars?

Consider that by requiring Judge Roberts to disclose his positions on sensitive issues that we weaken the balance of power that separates our nation from most others in the world. A jurist should not be popularity seeking, nor politically correct. Rather, that person must undertake a solemn duty to uphold the law, regardless of whether elected officials agree or disagree.

We only know that Judge Roberts is a man of the future, fore sure as he will be appointed for life. Let us hope that his brilliance will illuminate and brighten the land of the free to ensure free and fair elections available to all voters, to ensure that our nation follow the rule of law in the international community and that we continue to allow the first amendment to strengthen our democracy. What he has advocated in the past may foreshadow his opinions on controversial areas of the law, but the role of a judge is different than a lawyer. We can lay our hope on that distinction, fore sure.

Update 9.29.05

Judge Roberts is confirmed as Chief Judge of the United States Supreme Court. Let us hope and pray for a justice for the people.

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