John Roberts Legal Quotations

Judge Roberts, the legal automaton, as opposed to Judge Roberts, the man.

The approach was to avoid giving specific responses to any direct questions on legal issues likely to come before the court, but demonstrating in the response a firm command of the subject area and awareness of the relevant precedents and arguments,

The approach, ... (is) to avoid giving specific responses to any direct questions on legal issues likely to come before the court, but demonstrating in the response a firm command of the subject area and awareness of the relevant precedents and arguments.

Well, senator, as a legal matter, it is abstract,

I do think that it is a jolt to the legal system when you overrule a precedent. Precedent plays an important role in promoting stability and evenhandedness,

I do think it is a jolt to the legal system when you overrule a precedent, ... there are situations when that's a price that has to be paid.

I think it is a jolt to the legal system when you overturn precedent. ... It is not enough that you may think that a prior decision was wrongly decided,