Roberts sworn in as CJ but few students aware

By Maurice O. Ndole
The Collegian

John G. Roberts Jr., is the new Supreme Court chief justice.

Roberts was sworn in yesterday as the 17th Chief Justice at the White House in a ceremony conducted by acting Chief Justice John Paul Stevens.

He was confirmed after receiving more than a three-fourth bipartisan Senate vote.

During the swearing-in ceremony, President Bush praised the Senate and said they had confirmed a man with an astute mind and kind heart.

But few Fresno State students were aware of the historic event.

Seven out of 10 said they had not followed the Roberts’ confirmation process or recent events related to the Supreme Court in the media.

“I don’t have much time to watch TV anymore, I have 17 units,” Al Moua, a senior majoring in mathematics said.

Graphic design major Gustavo Torres said he didn’t know much about Roberts.

“I don’t really watch the news so much,” Torres said. “I just listen to music and do my designs.”

Some students said they’ve heard about Roberts’ nomination but they didn’t know about his confirmation.

“Isn’t he the guy who has something to do about Roe versus Wade?” senior business marketing major Colleen Riley asked.

Anti-Roberts groups have accused him of being against Roe versus Wade, a 1973 Supreme Court ruling that gave women the right to terminate a pregnancy.

Riley said she hoped Roberts would not overturn abortion laws.

“I think it’s a woman’s right to choose especially if she was raped,” Riley said. “But there should be a criteria to get an abortion.”

Senior graphic design major Elder Lopez said he had followed Roberts’ confirmation process but not diligently.

“I just know they were asking about his personal life,” Lopez said. “I’ve also seen them making fun of him in late night comedy shows like Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien.”

Computer engineering sophomore Masoud Sabourzodeh expressed mixed feelings about Roberts’ confirmation. He said as Supreme Court Chief Justice, Roberts shouldn’t accept gay marriage because it was uncommon in the world. However, Sabourzodeh said he supported women’s right to choose.

President Bush originally nominated Roberts in July to succeed retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. But his nomination was elevated to chief justice after the death of Roberts’ mentor, former Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist.

Roberts, 50, becomes the youngest person to be Chief Justice in more than two centuries. John Marshall stands as the youngest person to have been confirmed Chief Justice. Marshall was confirmed in 1801 at the age 45.

Roberts is expected to take his seat in the Supreme Court when it opens Monday.

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