05 Sep 2005 Project 21 Press Release: Black Activists Express Confidence in John Roberts for Chief Justice

President Bush’s decision to nominate Judge John Roberts to become chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court is applauded by members of the black leadership network Project 21 as an indication of the President’s faith and confidence in Roberts’s abilities as both a jurist and a leader.

“Nominating Judge Roberts at this time is both logical and reasonable.  While it can certainly be said that this indicates the President’s confidence in Roberts, I believe it also speaks highly of Roberts’s ability to lead and continue the atmosphere of collegiality fostered by the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist,” said Project 21 member Mychal Massie.

Judge Roberts was already nominated by President Bush to succeed Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who announced her intentions to retire from the Supreme Court in July.  Roberts will now replace the late Chief Justice Rehnquist, who died on September 3.  Justice O’Connor is expected to remain on the Court when it reconvenes in October until a new replacement is found and confirmed.

Project 21 takes no position on the confirmation of any particular judicial nominee, but believes that it is in the best interest of the United States that judicial vacancies are filled with appropriate speed.

For more information, contact David Almasiat (202) 507-6398 x11or [email protected], or visit Project 21’s website at http://www.project21.org/P21Index.html. New Visions Commentaries can be found at https://nationalcenter.org/P21NewVisions.html.