Roberts Fails to Meet the Test

In its final report on Chief Justice nominee John Roberts, People For the American Way (PFAW) demonstrates that Roberts’ confirmation hearings did nothing to reassure Americans concerned over the right to privacy, women’s reproductive rights and civil rights—and in fact raised further doubts as he repeatedly refused to answer substantive questions.

“All the American people wanted to hear was open, straightforward testimony from the man who would be chief justice. Instead, they got closed, clever evasions from a skilled lawyer,” said Ralph G. Neas, president of PFAW. “The burden was on the nominee to reassure concerned Americans that he would not move the court out of the mainstream and threaten freedoms most Americans today take for granted. He failed to meet that test.”

In fact, Roberts’ evasive and misleading testimony left a clear path for undoing much of the nation’s progress in civil rights over the past half century. His record and testimony have been embraced by far right pressure groups.

To read PFAW’s post-hearing report, click here