Congressional Black Caucus
"The Conscience of Congress since 1969"
www.congressionalblackcaucus.net

(Washington, D.C.)- U.S. Representative Melvin L. Watt (D-N.C.), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), will deliver the weekly CBC "Message to America" radio address this Saturday, July 23, 2005.  Chairman Watt will discuss the selection of John Roberts Jr. as President George Bush’s Supreme Court nominee.

 The CBC "Message to America" is distributed nationwide to the American Urban Radio Network's (AURN) affiliate stations.

            WHO:        Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Melvin L. Watt (D-N.C.)

            WHEN:      Saturday, July 23, 2005; 12:06 p.m. EST

            WHERE:   American Urban Radio Network Affiliate Stations

Chairman Watt is expected to deliver the following remarks:

“I’m Congressman Mel Watt, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.  I am happy to speak to you today on behalf of the CBC.

“Last Tuesday, President Bush nominated John G. Roberts, Jr. to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the United States Supreme Court. 

“Since 2003, the President’s nominee has served as a judge on the District of Columbia Circuit Court and, before that, as an attorney in a large law firm and in several positions in Republican administrations going back to the administration of Ronald Reagan.

“Throughout the history of this country the Supreme Court has been the place of last resort for African Americans. 

“Consequently, you can be assured that the CBC is closely evaluating the record of Judge Roberts and will clearly weigh his record on issues of particular importance to the African American community, including civil rights, justice, equality and affirmative action.  We will thoroughly review his speeches, writings and life experiences for any information that will help us to evaluate his attitudes.

“Because the courts have been, and continue to be, so important to African Americans, it is imperative that a Supreme Court justice uphold both the letter and spirit of laws, not his own political, philosophical or racial views or the political, philosophical and racial views of any party or group.

“Judge Roberts, the President’s nominee, has little experience as a judge and a sparse public record.  We suspect that is one of the reasons President Bush chose him.  He has spent most of his career as a corporate lawyer arguing for business interests and we must be convinced that he has the capacity to hear and decide fairly the interests of all Americans, not just the special interests of a few.

“The burden will be on Judge Roberts and the administration to provide full information about his record, including details of all his work in Republican administrations that have been extremely partisan and, in many cases racially divisive, over a number of years.  Coming from this background, the public should not be surprised to find that the Congressional Black Caucus will approach this nomination with substantial caution and even suspicion.

“The American people must know the full facts about Judge Roberts’ background and what has shaped his value system before the Senate decides whether he is able to serve on our highest court.  There is no more important decision involving the rights and freedoms of every American than choosing a Supreme Court justice

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