Topic: What Can You Bring To The Chief Justice Position
Senator: Graham
Date: SEPTEMBER 14, 2005
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GRAHAM: The office of chief justice of the United States is different, as you're the first among equals.
What do you believe as chief justice you can bring to the table that you could not as just a normal member of the court?
ROBERTS: Well, if I am confirmed, I think one of the things that the chief justice should have as a top priority is to try to bring about a greater degree of coherence and consensus in the opinions of the court.
I know that has been -- was a priority of the last chief justice. I actually believe that is something that should be a matter of concern for all of the justices, but as the chief, with responsibility for assigning opinions, I think he has greater scope for authority to exercise in that area and perhaps over time can develop greater persuasive authority to make the point.
And again, coming from the chief it may be a point that other justices would receive -- be more receptive to than they might coming from one of their colleagues; that we're not benefited by having six different opinions in a case; that we do need to take a step and think whether or not we really do feel strongly about a point in which a justice is writing a separate concurrence which only he or she is joining, or whether the majority opinion could be revised in a way that wouldn't affect anyone's commitment to the judicial oath to decide the cases as they see fit, but would allow more justices to join the majority so the court speaks as a court.
That is something that the priority should be, to speak as a court.
GRAHAM: So your goal as chief justice is where you can, and as often as you can, define consensus and unite the court, is that true?
ROBERTS: I think the court should be as united behind an opinion of the court as it possibly can.
ROBERTS: Now, obviously, in many cases it's not going to be possible.
GRAHAM: I applaud you because we're a divided nation, and the more united we can become at any level of government, the stronger we'll be. So I applaud you for that attitude.
SPECTER: Thank you very much, Senator Graham.
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