109th Congress / Senate / 1st session / Vote 245

• Question: On the Nomination
• Category: Nomination
• Vote description: Confirmation of John G. Roberts, Jr., of Maryland, to be Chief Justice of the United States
• Vote type: 1/2 (Help)
  A simple majority of those present and voting is required for approval or passage.
• Result: Confirmed, 78-22.
• Date/time: September 29, 2005, 11:31 a.m.
• Republican majority opinion: Yes (Help)
  The position of more than 50 percent of voting Republicans. "None" means an equal split between "Yes" and "No."
• Democrat majority opinion: (Help)
  The position of more than 50 percent of voting Democrats. "None" means an equal split between "Yes" and "No."

Key Vote Analysis

President Bush nominated John G. Roberts Jr. as an associate justice in July 2005 after Justice Sandra Day O’Connor announced her retirement. Bush re-nominated Roberts for the chief justice post in September following the death of Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist.

A conservative, Roberts had a comparatively short judicial record, having served two years on the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He drew criticism from liberal interest groups and some Democrats for his writings on civil rights issues during the 1980's, when he held high-level legal jobs in the Reagan administration. During his confirmation hearings Roberts maintained that he was a "modest" judge who would interpret the law as it is written and who would not "legislate from the bench." Roberts proved to be a remarkably poised, well spoken, and knowledgeable nominee and his performance during the hearings was lauded by both Democrats and Republicans. On the other hand, many Democrats displayed frustration at Roberts's refusal to comment on certain legal issues on the grounds that they might come before him as a judge or justice. In the end, 22 Democrats voted to confirm Roberts while 22 voted against it. The final vote total was 78 to 22.

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Vote totals