[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 29 (Monday, July 25, 2005)]
[Pages 1192-1193]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Address to the Nation Announcing the Nomination of John G. Roberts, Jr., 
To Be an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court

July 19, 2005

    Good evening. One of the most consequential decisions a President 
makes is his appointment of a Justice to the Supreme Court. When a 
President chooses a Justice, he's placing in human hands the authority 
and majesty of the law. The decisions of the Supreme Court affect the 
life of every American.
    And so a nominee to that Court must be a person of superb 
credentials and the highest integrity, a person who will faithfully 
apply the Constitution and keep our founding promise of equal justice 
under law. I have found such a person in Judge John Roberts.
    And tonight I'm honored to announce that I am nominating him to 
serve as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. John Roberts currently 
serves on one of the most influential courts in the Nation, the United 
States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
    Before he was a respected judge, he was known as one of the most 
distinguished and talented attorneys in America. John Roberts has 
devoted his entire professional life to the cause of justice and is 
widely admired for his intellect, his sound judgment, and personal 
decency.
    Judge Roberts was born in Buffalo and grew up in Indiana. In high 
school, he captained his football team, and he worked summers in a steel 
mill to help pay his way through college. He's an honors graduate of 
both Harvard College and Harvard Law School. In his career, he has 
served as a law clerk to Justice William Rehnquist, as an Associate 
Counsel to President Ronald Reagan, and as the Principal Deputy 
Solicitor General in the Department of Justice.
    In public service and in private practice, he has argued 39 cases 
before the Supreme Court and earned a reputation as one of the best 
legal minds of his generation. Judge Roberts has earned the respect of 
people from both political parties. After he was nominated for the Court 
of Appeals in 2001, a bipartisan group of more than 150 lawyers sent a 
letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee. They wrote:
     ``Although as individuals we reflect a wide spectrum of political 
      party affiliation and ideology, we are united in our belief that 
      John Roberts will be an outstanding Federal court appeals judge 
      and should be confirmed by the United States Senate.''
    The signers of this letter included a former Counsel to a Republican 
President, a former Counsel to two Democratic Presidents, and a former--
and former high-ranking Justice Department officials of both parties.
    My decision to nominate Judge Roberts to the Supreme Court came 
after a thorough and deliberative process. My staff and I consulted with 
more than 70 Members of the United States Senate. I received good advice 
from both Republicans and Democrats. I appreciate the care they took. 
I'm grateful for their advice. I reviewed the credentials of many well-
qualified men and women. I met personally with a number of potential 
nominees.
    In my meetings with Judge Roberts, I have been deeply impressed. 
He's a man of extraordinary accomplishment and ability. He has a good 
heart. He has the qualities Americans expect in a judge: experience, 
wisdom, fairness, and civility. He has profound respect for the rule of 
law and for the liberties guaranteed to every citizen. He will strictly 
apply the Constitution and laws, not legislate from the bench.
    He's also a man of character who loves his country and his family. 
I'm pleased that his wife, Jane, and his two beautiful children, Jack 
and Josie, could be with us tonight. Judge Roberts has served his fellow 
citizens well, and he is prepared for even greater service.
    Under the Constitution, Judge Roberts now goes before the United 
States Senate for confirmation. I've recently spoken with leaders 
Senator Frist and Senator Reid and with senior members of the Judiciary 
Committee, Chairman Specter and Senator Leahy. These Senators share my 
goal of a dignified confirmation process that is conducted with fairness 
and civility. The appointments of the two most recent Justices

[[Page 1193]]

to the Supreme Court prove that this confirmation can be done in a 
timely manner.
    So I have full confidence that the Senate will rise to the occasion 
and act promptly on this nomination. It is important that the newest 
Justice be on the bench when the Supreme Court reconvenes in October. I 
believe that Democrats and Republicans alike will see the strong 
qualifications of this fine judge, as they did when they confirmed him 
by unanimous consent to the judicial seat he now holds.
    I look forward to the Senate voting to confirm Judge John Roberts as 
the 109th Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
    Judge Roberts, thank you for agreeing to serve, and congratulations.

Note: The President spoke at 9:02 p.m. on the State Floor at the White 
House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also 
included the remarks of Judge Roberts. The Office of the Press Secretary 
also released a Spanish language transcript of this address.