Topic: Chief Justice as the Head of Judicial Conference
Senator: Kohl
Date: SEPTEMBER 14, 2005
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KOHL: All right. I'll just ask one more question before my time expires, and that's upon the important role that chief justice plays as the head of Judicial Conference, which is the organization of the entire federal judiciary.
As head of Judicial Conference, chief justice makes policy recommendations with respect to legal reform, reform of court procedures and advocates for the federal courts.
What, if you were confirmed, would be your agenda, your plans or your policy objectives to advance in connection with your role as the head of Judicial Conference?
ROBERTS: Well, I'm familiar with how the Judicial Conference operates for at least part of its role. I've been on the Advisory Committee on Appellate Rules. I was there as a lawyer, and I've kept on as a judge. In fact, I was slated to be the chairman of that committee starting in October.
KOHL: So I understand the role in promoting reform of rules that apply in the federal courts, both the appellate rules, civil rules, criminal rules and bankruptcy rules and evidence rules -- different committees there.
And I'm familiar with the process. They go through the advisory committee, a broader committee about rules in general, then they are submitted to the Judicial Conference for consideration.
And it is a very exhaustive process, but I think also a very responsive one. Particular problems are identified in practice by practitioners, by judges. They are submitted to the committees. They review them. They come up with proposals.
It is a very important part of the functioning of the federal system and it affects all the levels, not just the Supreme Court of course, but the courts of appeals and the trial courts.
Other issues of concern, obviously, pressing issues concerns with respect to security in light of different developments, those are addressed at the Judicial Conference -- any need for legislative action that the courts feel is appropriate.
I have to tell you that if I were to be confirmed, as an initial matter, I think my primary posture is going to be one of listening because there's obviously much I have to learn about matters of concern to different judges, different courts around the country.
And that's the good thing about the Judicial Conference, of course. They bring in judges from around the country to make sure that you get a national perspective on what needs to be done and you are not just focused on issues here in Washington or anywhere else.
But it is an area where I think I will have to listen a lot at the outset before being presumptuous enough to have a particular agenda.
KOHL: I thank you, Judge Roberts.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.
ROBERTS: Thank you, Senator.
SPECTER: Thank you, Senator Kohl.
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