Chief Roberts, presiding

Chief Roberts, presiding

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

October 4, 2005

WASHINGTON - John G. Roberts, who argued more than three dozen cases before the Supreme Court as an appellate court lawyer, got to see a new side yesterday.

He took his seat - a leather chair, actually - as chief justice.

On opening day of the court's 2005-06 term, Roberts welcomed new lawyers to the Supreme Court bar and presided over arguments in two cases. He put on glasses to read from the sheaf of papers in front of him, removed them to survey the packed courtroom and sipped from a silver cup.

Crisp and businesslike, Roberts, 50, listened intently, at times with chin in hand.

It was a younger and more robust version of his mentor, the late William H. Rehnquist, who died last month at age 80 after 33 years on the high court.

But unlike his predecessor, who had adorned each sleeve of his robe with a set of four gold stripes after being inspired by a costume in a comic opera, Roberts wore a plain black judicial robe.

Before taking his place in the chief justice's center chair, Roberts was welcomed during a special sitting of the nine-member Supreme Court. Bush, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Solicitor General Paul Clement, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and other senators, Roberts' wife, Jane, also a lawyer, and the Roberts' two children attended, among others.

Source: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/politics/ny-usterm044454381oct04,0,1684563.story?coll=ny-lipolitics-print

Vice Chairman of Voter Education

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