Washington Whispers

Chief Justice Roberts a Student of Justice Owen Roberts

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October 13, 2009 RSS Feed Print
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By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

Chief Justice John G. Roberts isn't the first Supreme Court justice to have that last name. And even though he wasn't the chief, former Justice Owen J. Roberts left a legacy so large that even the newest Roberts is a student of his work. In FDR v. Constitution, Burt Solomon details how Roberts capped the effort led in part by then Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes to beat back FDR's scheme to pack the conservative court with six liberals. Solomon, a National Journal reporter, thought his page-turner might find a home in the current chief justice's library, and it has. Shortly after receiving it, Roberts hand-penned a note to Solomon. "September 17, 2009, Constitution Day," Roberts began. "Many thanks for the copy of your new book. I spend a day on the topic in my 2-week summer course (from Hughes's perspective), so I will be interested in your take."

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John Roberts,
Supreme Court

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I had Burt Solomon on my radio program, The Advocates a few months ago. he was a great guest, the book is quite interesting. Though FDR may have strategically stumbled regarding the Court Reorganization, there is no doubt that it was way out of touch, completely business dominated and not aware of the need for change. Because of FDR's aggressive actions, many of the Justices saw the light after Owen Roberts switched positions on the New Deal and resigned. FDR has taken a great deal of heat for his actions, but he promised action and action now! As to the Nine Old Men on the court, there legacy was obfuscation and protecting the self-interest of the oligarchs that controlled America. When Wall Street and big business were rescued, not much unlike today, they reverted to their old ways. It took them a few years in their day, and today it has taken only a few minutes for the big boys to bite the hand that has not only fed them, but pulled them back from the riptide.

Richard J. Garfunkel

Host of The Advocates

WVOX 1460 AM Radio

live-streaming www.wvox.com

Richard J. Garfunkel of NY 3:29PM October 13, 2009

by the time all the damage to America from our current John G. Roberts (with Alito, Thomas, Scalia and Kennedy) court is undone.

The big one coming this year will be the loosening of restrictions on corporate money in national elections. How can you, the citizen, compete with that?

As for what books the current Roberts reads? We're supposed to find it interesting that he is studying up on how to thwart citizens?

Muser of NM 1:31PM October 13, 2009

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