Roberts should be confirmed (8/6/05)

President Bush has tapped a qualified man of solid character to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Judge John Roberts has the intellect and experience required to fill such an important position in our government.

When he was nominated to his current post on the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia, more than 150 members of the D.C. bar weighed in with their support, calling him a “brilliant writer” of “unquestioned integrity” and “fair-mindedness.” He earned those accolades, in part, as a lawyer who argued more cases before the high court than all but a few of the 180,000 members of the Supreme Court bar.

Still, Judge Roberts isn’t likely to sail through the confirmation process. He already is being bashed by those on the political left as out of touch with mainstream America, a baseless charge designed to direct attention away from the real issue: Liberals want a judge who will legislate from the bench rather than strictly interpret the Constitution.

Any purely partisan bid to block Judge Roberts must not be allowed to succeed. He deserves a fair hearing, and a fair vote in the Senate. Please call our Senators and let them know you want an up or down vote and will not tolerate a filibuster.

Mr. Lugar can be reached at (202) 224-4814 and the other Senator at (202) 224-5623.

Dave Milligan

Portland

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