Chief Justice John G. Roberts
Supreme Court of the United States
John Glover Roberts, Jr., was born in January 1955 in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in Indiana. He earned an undergraduate degree from Harvard College, and was preparing to pursue a Ph.D. in history but decided to attend Harvard Law School instead where he received his Juris Doctor. He clerked at the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, then clerked for Justice William Rehnquist of the Supreme Court.
He went to work as a special assistant to the U.S. Attorney General William French Smith and was then an associate with the White House Counsel during President Reagan’s administration. He entered private practice in Washington, D.C. He joined the administration of President George H.W. Bush as Principal Deputy Solicitor General. At the end of that administration, he returned to private practice.
Roberts was nominated by President George W. Bush to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. His first nomination was allowed to expire by the Senate, but he was renominated, confirmed by the Senate, and received his commission in June 2003. In June 2005, President Bush named Roberts to fill a Supreme Court vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. While his nomination was pending, Chief Justice Rehnquist died. Two days later, President Bush withdrew Roberts’ nomination as O’Connor’s successor and announced Roberts’ new nomination to the position of Chief Justice. He was confirmed by the Senate and took his oath of office in September 2005.
Roberts is married to Jane Sullivan and they have two adopted children. He is Catholic.
In the News…
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of two donor-supported national organizations that challenged the constitutionality of California’s requirement that charities and nonprofits operating in the state must provide the state attorney general’s office with the names and addresses of their largest donors.
The Court ruled that the California donor disclosure requirement is facially invalid because it burdens donors’ First Amendment rights and is not narrowly tailored to an important government interest.
More than 250 organizations submitted amicus briefs arguing against California’s donor disclosure law.
Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, “The gravity of the privacy concerns in this context is further underscored by the filings of hundreds of organizations as amici curiae in support of the nonprofits. Far from representing uniquely sensitive causes, these organizations span the ideological spectrum.”
He said the California attorney general’s disclosure requirement is over-broad.
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Chief Justice Roberts today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Chief Justice John Roberts
Supreme Court of the United States
1 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20543
