“Roberts Sidesteps Landmark Abortion Ruling”: Jesse J. Holland of The Associated Press provides this report.
The Sacramento Bee is reporting: Today’s newspaper reports that “Nominee takes Senate stage; He pledges to be true to the rule of law, not politics” and “Roberts’ abortion views matter, state poll finds.”
And in local news, an article headlined “Potential court bid withdrawn” begins, “U.S. District Court Judge Morrison England of Sacramento has withdrawn his name as a possible appointee to the California Supreme Court, his office confirmed Monday.”
Tom Goldstein is live-blogging day two of the confirmation hearing at “SCOTUSblog”: You can access his coverage here. And Tom Curry, national affairs writer for MSNBC, is live-blogging here.
Already this morning, fewer than ten minutes into questions from Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA), it is apparent that Chief Justice nominee John G. Roberts, Jr. will not discuss his views of Roe v. Wade or even whether he agrees with any other rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court. When Democratic Senators are asking the questions, you can expect Judge Roberts to be questioned much more aggressively on these issues.
He’s masterfully evasive: That was my conclusion after observing John G. Roberts, Jr. testify at his confirmation hearings in 2003 for a judgeship on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Day two of his confirmation hearing to become Chief Justice of the United States is scheduled to start just minutes from now. In addition to viewing online via C-SPAN3 (using RealPlayer or Windows Media Player), the Judiciary Committee offers a live audio feed, as does NPR (RealPlayer required).
“A grandfather’s legacy of law, humor and love; Dana Rehnquist shares memories of chief justice”: The Daily Pennsylvanian yesterday contained an article that begins, “College freshman Dana Rehnquist was on her way to dinner with her brother and grandfather one night a few years back when the grandfather, a big movie buff, announced that he had just seen a ‘really raunchy’ film.
He loved it so much, he said, that even when his disgusted friends wanted to get up in the middle and leave, he ordered them to stay put.”
“Court Docket May Color Roberts Hearings; With Justices Set to Consider Oregon Law, Nominee May Be Questioned About Right to Die”: This article (free access) appears today in The Wall Street Journal.
Today in The Los Angeles Times, David G. Savage reports that “Roberts Sees Role as Judicial ‘Umpire’; ‘I have no platform,’ the chief justice nominee tells senators at start of confirmation hearings.” A related article is headlined “An Understated Start to Hearings; Moments of drama are few on the first day of proceedings for the chief justice nominee; But some say the restraint may not last the week.”
The New York Times, in addition to containing the articles earlier noted here, reports that “As Roberts Hearings Begin, Manners Befit the Moment.”
The Washington Post, in addition to containing the articles earlier noted here, contains an article headlined “The Unheard: On the First Day, John Roberts’s Reserve Is Confirmed.”
In USA Today, Kathy Kiely and Joan Biskupic report that “Roberts pledges ‘humility’ as Senate hearings begin; Democrats want to know more.” And Joan Biskupic and Toni Locy have an article headlined “‘I have no platform,’ Roberts professes; But high court’s role in society could be central to hearings.”
In The Chicago Tribune, Jan Crawford Greenburg reports that “Roberts testifies, ‘I have no agenda’; Democrats zero in on civil rights, privacy.” And in related coverage, “Cordiality reigns–for now; Despite congratulations from Kennedy and talk of ‘the Roberts era,’ signs of a Supreme Court confirmation showdown are still in place.”
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that “A poised Roberts assures panel he is able, fair — not a lawmaker.” And Bob Egelko has an article headlined “The Ginsburg stance is debated; She parried some queries, answered at length on others.”
The New York Sun reports that “Court Nominee Says He’ll Keep an Open Mind.”
The San Jose Mercury News reports that “At start of hearing, Roberts takes dispassionate stance.”
Newsday reports that “Democrats to press Roberts on ideology.”
The Boston Globe contains articles headlined “Roberts tells panel he would join high court ‘with no agenda’; Nominee for chief justice to face first questions today” and “Questioning will trigger torrent of text messages; Aides, experts poised to make salient points.” In addition, Charlie Savage reports that “Attempt to link court hearings, GOP response seen as tenuous.”
The Indianapolis Star contains articles headlined “To nominee, Indiana fields symbolize possibilities in U.S.” and “Not many following hearings.”
The Dallas Morning News contains an article headlined “Roberts: I’ll judge with open mind; High court hearings begin with division over what he should disclose.”
The Baltimore Sun reports that “Roberts promises to keep an ‘open mind’; GOP senators laud him; Democrats voice doubts.”
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that “First hearing on Roberts offers taste of struggle ahead; ‘Battle lines forming’: Hatch says that debates on specific legal issues could derail the process.”
The St. Petersburg Times reports that “Roberts lays out philosophy of judicial restraint; When the high court nominee faces questioning today from senators, some will be eager to pin him down on issues.”
The Evansville Courier & Press reports that “Drama takes Hoosier slant; Roberts tells how endless fields of Indiana represent unlimited possibilities.”
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch contains articles headlined “Roberts tells senators he’d play by the rules” and “Anti-abortion ad targets Durbin as Roberts hearing opens.”
The Washington Times contains articles headlined “Roberts comes with ‘no agenda’“; “‘Ginsburg standard’ pits parties“; and “Katrina invoked in Roberts hearings.”
In The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Michael McGough reports that “Supreme Court nominee hearings open; ‘I have no platform,’ Roberts says.” And in related coverage, “Opening of Roberts’ confirmation hearing surprisingly mild.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution contains an article headlined “Roberts: ‘I have no agenda’; Justice nominee vows ‘humility’ on court.”
The Houston Chronicle reports that “Roberts vows fairness as high court umpire; As the hearings open, he says he’ll call each case by the law, ‘without fear or favor.’”
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that “Roberts vows to apply laws, not make them, on top court; Judges are like umpires, he tells senators at hearing.”
The Newark Star-Ledger reports that “Roberts tries to assure committee he has no agenda; Division among senators already apparent before he is questioned.”
The News Journal of Wilmington, Delaware reports that “Biden asks Roberts to explain writings; Senator says based on writings, he’d turn nominee down.”
The Des Moines Register reports that “Roberts ‘well-qualified,’ Grassley says.”
The Providence Journal reports that “R.I. court of opinion on Roberts is mixed; A lawyer in a group chaired by former Gov. Lincoln Almond says Roberts has the ‘legal intellect, fairness, integrity, temperament’ for the position, while the leader of Ocean State Action says ‘we are opposing Judge Roberts.’”
The Woonsocket Call reports that “Chafee, Reed say they haven’t decided yet about Roberts.”
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports that “Local lawyer praises chief justice nominee.”
The State News of Michigan State University reports that “Locals hope for balance on court; Absence of varied views concern for MSU community.”
And BusinessWeek offers a news analysis headlined “No One’s Kicking Dirt on ‘Umpire’ Roberts; Expectations of a showdown at the Supreme Court nominee’s confirmation hearings didn’t pan out; Don’t worry, drama buffs, there’s still time.”
