Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. worked behind the scenes for gay rights activists, and his legal expertise helped them persuade the Supreme Court to issue a landmark 1996 ruling [Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 (1996)] protecting people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation.Ann Althouse comments:
Then a lawyer specializing in appellate work, the conservative Roberts helped represent the gay rights activists as part of his law firm's pro bono work. He did not write the legal briefs or argue the case before the high court, but he was instrumental in reviewing filings and preparing oral arguments, according to several lawyers intimately involved in the case. . .
Roberts' work on behalf of gay rights activists, whose cause is anathema to many conservatives, appears to illustrate his allegiance to the credo of the legal profession: to zealously represent the interests of the client, whoever it might be.
This is a case of donating his work, not just pursuing the interests of a paying client. But his firm was working on the case, and he was asked to help, supposedly, and didn't balk:Still, gay lobby groups and newspapers label Judge Roberts "disturbing" and claim the nomination "raises serious concern". That's because leftists can't grasp the duties of lawyers or the responsibility of judges, instead insisting the rule of law entitles liberals to be lawless.The lawyer who asked for Roberts' help on the case, Walter A. Smith Jr., then head of the pro bono department at Hogan & Hartson, said Roberts didn't hesitate. "He said, 'Let's do it.' And it's illustrative of his open-mindedness, his fair-mindedness. He did a brilliant job."
Roberts' record reflects "striking fair-mindedness and a willingness to be bound by his own rules." Leftists are undeterred, imagining the end of the world as we know it and plotting a Spanish Inquisition, anti-Catholic this time.
In other words, "just say no"--it's the modern left's sole strategy. "From each according to [their] abilities."
(via Ann Althouse)
5 comments:
Excellent, excellent post.
Great mimds and all that- see this: http://sigcarlfred.blogspot.com/2005/07/i-stink-you-stink-we-all-stink.html
In the end, Roberts will be confirmed. All this wasted energy- all because of a game everyone knows is a game- and no one cares enough to grow up.
SC&A:
Thanks--and I read, agreed with, and linked to your excellent post (penultimate paragraph, "imagining").
TY, carl. As I said, grteat minds think alike.
Carl, I saw that story and thought the same thing.
Professionalism, people. Ever hear of it? John Roberts is a lawyer's lawyer, and those types often help other lawyers -- irrespective of the cause -- simply because it is part of being a professional.
John Marshall Harlan II would approve. And so should we all. Doug J.
Yes, exactly. This is just a very decent and intelligent guy who believes passionately in the law and its equal application to everyone. He's exactly the type of Supreme Court justice that we need, because he will be intent upon preserving the rule of law rather than men.
This does seem to be a consistent trait shown throughout his career. And you said it all with the contrast of "instead insisting the rule of law entitles liberals to be lawless."
Whimsical law is no law.
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