SacTown's Newest Friend

[MickeyLumbo]

SacTown's Newest Friend

(Hey, He likes peanuts. can't be all that bad of a guy - i like peanuts too!)


Printer friendly pageJohn G. Roberts, Jr.Gender: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White
Status: Confirmed (Nominated: January 2003; Confirmed: May 2003)
ABA Rating: Well Qualified (WQ)
Circuit: District of Columbia Circuit
Home State: Maryland
Category: Bush Contributor, Bush/GOP Campaign, No Judicial Experience, Bush Admin. Official, Lobbyist
Financial Disclosure Statement: download PDF
Senate Questionnaire: download PDF
Employment/background:
2003-present: Judge, DC Circuit Court;
1993-2003: Partner, Hogan & Hartson LLP;
1989-93: Principal Deputy Solicitor General, US DoJ;
1986-89: Associate, Hogan & Hartson LLP;
1982-86: Associate Counsel to the President, White House Counsel's Office;
1981-82: Special Asst to the AG in the US DoJ;
1980 -81 Supreme Court of the United States, Law Clerk to Hon. Wm. H. Rehnquist

Law Firm Connection:
Hogan & Hartson LLP. is the oldest and the largest major law firm based in Washington, D.C with close to 1,000 lawyers practicing a wide range of corporate law. Hogan & Hartson served as counsel in a number of significant international and domestic operations, including the largest private-public venture in South American history (firm website).

Clients:
Robert's Hogan & Hartson clients included large and small corporations, state and local governments, trade & professional organizations, nonprofit associations, and individuals. Examples include States of Hawaii & Alaska, Litton Industries, the National Collegiate Athletic Associationm the Credit Union National Association, Pulte Corporation, and Intergraph Corporation.

Federalist Society Connection:
Member

Legal Special Interest Connection:
Member, National Republican Lawyers Association;
National Legal Center for the Public Interest*, Legal Advisory Board Member (with C Boyden Gray and Ken Starr)

*NLCPI newsletters promote regulatory and tort reform. Board members include corporate leaders from companies like Dow Chemical. (NLCPI website).

In the News:
A 2002 article in a cattle industry publication says that Roberts served as a lawyer for Nebraska Cattlemen Inc. in a case pitting the group, along with the National Cattlemens Beef Association, and the Department of Justice against cattle producers.The plaintiffs wanted to opt out of a mandatory fees marketing program that was established in a 1985 farm bill. (Feedstuffs, 07/29/02)

Roberts's name appears on the government's brief defending the gag rule under which federally funded family-planning clinics were barred from offering abortion counseling. The brief (Rust v. Sullivan) argued in passing, as the Bush administration contended at the time, that Roe v. Wade should be overturned. In another case, Mr. Roberts argued for the government that the activities of abortion protesters did not constitute discrimination against women. (Washington Post, June 7, 2001)

As a former deputy solicitor under the first President Bush, Roberts successfully argued on behalf of the federal government in a 1990 Supreme Court case that private citizens do not have the right to sue over environmental violations unless they have been directly affected by the violation. (Environmental Magazine, December 31, 2003)


Net Worth: $3,782,275

Lobbying Activities:
Hogan & Hartson

• Western Peanut Growers Association-1996 (Source: Opensecrets, Federal lobbying records)
  -Roberts was paid up to $20,000 by WPGA to lobby.
  -He lobbied for The Warehouse Storage Loan Program and the Peanut Price Support Program.
  -Throughout the year, he contacted the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Panhandle Peanut Growers Association-1997
  -Roberts was paid up to $10,000 by PPGA for lobbying.
  -He lobbied for The Warehouse Storage Loan Program and the Peanut Price Program.
  -He contacted the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Western Peanut Growers Association-1997
  -WPGA paid <$20,000 to Hogan and Hartson (lobbyist unknown)
• Panhandle Peanut Growers Association-1998
  -PPGA paid <$20,000 to Hogan and Hartson (lobbyist unknown)
• Western Peanut Growers Association-1998
  -WPGA paid <$20,000 to Hogan and Hartson (lobbyist unknown)

Political Activity:
Executive Committee, DC Lawyers for Bush-Quayle '88
Member, Lawyers for Bush-Cheney

Bush Administration Ties:
Executive Committee, DC Lawyers for Bush-Quayle '88
Member, Lawyers for Bush-Cheney

Campaign Contributions:
Richard Lugar (R-IN) - $500 (2000)
George W Bush - $1000 (2000)
Hogan & Hartson PAC - $5675 (1993-2000)
Peter G Fitzgerald (R-IL) - $1235 (1998)
Peter Rusthoven (R-IN) - $1000 (1997-98)

[scaeagles]

It should be interesting to see how this plays out.

He is certainly well qualified. Being that he was confirmed to his current position on an appeals court without much opposition and even members of the Clinton administration have signed a letter urging his confirmation (I don't know who - I just read it), I would hope that it won't be long and drawn out. Something tells me it will, though, as it would be with any candidate, sadly.

[Prudence]

I'll be interested to see how this goes. I know next to nothing about him, so I'm not qualified at this point to offer an opinion.

An AP article does note that as an attorney he argued both sides of many issues -- affirmative action, antitrust, etc... In general, that's the sort of experience that would demonstrate an ability to examine all sides of a case.

In contrast, I'm not sure I would be supportive of a nominee who had a record of only taking one side in practice, as I would be suspicious of the dreaded "agenda."

[SacTown Chronic]

I made a new friend already? Wow, that was fast...i wasn't expecting to make a new friend until next week. At least I've forgotten all about Karl What'shisname.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

It should be interesting to see how this plays out.

He is certainly well qualified. Being that he was confirmed to his current position on an appeals court without much opposition and even members of the Clinton administration have signed a letter urging his confirmation (I don't know who - I just read it), I would hope that it won't be long and drawn out. Something tells me it will, though, as it would be with any candidate, sadly.

You know, Clinton is NOT lord and savior of the Democratic Party. He's a charismatic guy who did some good things, but hearing, "Clinton agreed with it, so they all should" is getting old.

[Nephythys]

Funny- I did not think that was what he said at all- I read it as just a comment that this nominee might not be as controversial as some people may think- he also said some members of his administration signed it- not Clinton himself.

And it's a shame he can't save the party- but then I don't think anyone can at this point.

[Ghoulish Delight]

It's not the individual comment, it's the fact that he can't go 3 posts without mentioning him. It's old.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by Nephythys

Funny- I did not think that was what he said at all- I read it as just a comment that this nominee might not be as controversial as some people may think- he also said some members of his administration signed it- not Clinton himself.

And it's a shame he can't save the party- but then I don't think anyone can at this point.

The real problem with mentioning "he who must not be named" is that it brings up bad memories for many on the left...........It has got to be a bit embarressing for the intellectual set to have to look back and hang all of their recent "successes" with this bumpikin from bright red Arkansas In fact, when was the last time a non-red state dem held the highest office /

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

It should be interesting to see how this plays out.

He is certainly well qualified. Being that he was confirmed to his current position on an appeals court without much opposition and even members of the Clinton administration have signed a letter urging his confirmation (I don't know who - I just read it), I would hope that it won't be long and drawn out. Something tells me it will, though, as it would be with any candidate, sadly.

Humm it looks like moveon.org has a slightly diffrent version of this guy...

Apparently he hates clean air, loves strip mines, hates that YOU have a right to vote and thinks the government knows best when it comes to an individuals uterus.

Good thing he's a moderate, I’d hate to see what a staunch conservative would do to the court….

[Nephythys]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

It's not the individual comment, it's the fact that he can't go 3 posts without mentioning him. It's old.

Oh, I see. Thanks for the clarification.

Interesting note- Ann Coulter doesn't like him-
Link