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

(Washington, D.C.)- U.S. Representative Melvin L. Watt (D-NC), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus
(CBC), and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Chair of the CBC’s Judicial Task Force, today issued the
following statement on behalf of the CBC on the confirmation of Judge John Roberts, Jr. as Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court:

“Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are disappointed that the Senate voted to confirm Judge John Roberts
as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

“With the resignation of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the President still has an opportunity to unite our country and
to seek consensus across party lines by consulting with a broad range of people and nominating someone who cares
about how the law affects all Americans, not just about ideology.

“As we have said before, the Supreme Court has always been the place of last resort for African Americans throughout
our history in this country, and we strongly urge the highest level of consultation and the nomination of someone
committed to protecting the rights and freedoms of every American.”

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