Supreme Court Justice (nominated by Pres. George W. Bush 2005)
Defended welfare recipients from losing benefits, pro-bono
As a top appellate lawyer in Washington, Supreme Court nominee John Roberts represented big business against employee claims, coal companies against polluted communities, and contractors seeking an end to government race-preference programs.
But he also defended a town's right to prevent development on private property, fought for indigenous people's rights to self-determination, and-for free-helped welfare recipients who feared losing their benefits.
Viewed through a political prism,
his record seems to lack any particular ideological bent. "But you can't attribute every sentence from the arguments in a given case to the lawyer who handled it, because they're ultimately just representing their client," an expert said.
As a hired advocate, Roberts mastered building arguments on all sides of the political spectrum and avoids easy labeling.
Source: Stephen Henderson, Detroit Free Press
Jul 21, 2005
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