Supreme Court of the United States
John Roberts
Chief Justice
Biography
John Glover Roberts Jr. is an American jurist who has served since 2005 as the 17th chief justice of the United States. Though primarily an institutionalist, he has been described as having a moderate conservative judicial philosophy. Regarded as a swing vote in some cases, Roberts has presided over an ideological shift toward conservative jurisprudence on the high court, in which he has authored key opinions.
Source: Wikipedia
Education & Career
Undergraduate
Harvard College, A.B. in History, summa cum laude (1976)
Law School
Harvard Law School, J.D., magna cum laude (1979)
Prior Roles
- —Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (2003–2005)
- —Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States (1989–1993)
- —Associate Counsel to the President (1982–1986)
Judicial Philosophy
Roberts emphasizes the institutional legitimacy of the Court and tends toward narrow rulings that avoid broad constitutional pronouncements where possible. He has expressed concern for the Court's standing as an institution independent of political pressures.
Notable Opinions
NFIB v. Sebelius
2012
Upheld the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate as a valid exercise of Congress's taxing power, while holding that the mandate could not be sustained under the Commerce Clause or Necessary and Proper Clause.
Shelby County v. Holder
2013
Struck down the coverage formula of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as outdated, effectively suspending the preclearance requirement that certain states obtain federal approval before changing voting laws.
Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard
2023
Ruled that race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, ending affirmative action in college admissions.