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

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

“After doing our own study of the complete record of Judge John Roberts, Jr. and of his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the CBC strongly opposes the confirmation of Judge Roberts as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and encourages the Senate to defeat his nomination for the following reasons:

“Our review of his papers before the Senate hearing showed that the most controversial part of Judge Roberts’ record was his civil rights record and views.  

“The CBC requested that Judge Roberts meet with representatives of the CBC to explore the CBC’s concerns about his civil rights record and views.  Unfortunately, Judge Roberts and the White House rejected this request. 

“Important documents that would have given a fuller picture of Judge Roberts’ civil rights record and views during his federal government tenure were withheld from the Judiciary Committee and the public by the White House.  Withholding documents about civil rights, an immensely important issue to the nation deeply implicating the Court, leaves the strong impression that the records would reveal positions concerning civil rights that the Senate and many Americans would find unacceptable today.  

“Because of our serious concern about those parts of Judge Roberts’ record and about the substantial gap left by the refusal to release other pertinent documents, the CBC submitted a list of questions concerning his civil rights record and views to the 18 members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and requested that Judge Roberts be asked to respond to these or similar questions.  We especially need clarification concerning John Roberts’ repeated attempts to narrow and limit the effectiveness of the 1965 Voting Rights Act when the Act was last renewed, and an explanation concerning whether he still opposes affirmative action. 

“We are pleased that most of the questions we submitted were asked by various members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  However, we were very disappointed that Judge Roberts’ chose to avoid responding to the questions concerning civil rights.  Instead of explaining his views on civil rights or indicating any changes, Judge Roberts chose to avoid answering these questions.  His evasive responses mainly focused on his youth as a lawyer at the time and his claim to have been only a staff lawyer, when in fact throughout his service, Judge Roberts often advised and recommended Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush on administration policy and strategic approaches to civil rights matters, not legal issues or language.  His responses only heightened our concerns. 

“Judge Roberts’ civil rights record and views remained the most controversial and unexplained part of his record when the Judiciary Committee hearing concluded, just as his civil rights record and views had been the most controversial part of his record when the hearing began.  Judge Roberts failed to answer any of our major concerns.  Service as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is far too critical to people of color to leave these critical concerns unanswered.  Therefore, the CBC strongly opposes the confirmation of Judge Roberts and urges all Senators to oppose his nomination.”

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