John Glover Roberts Jr. has been the 17th Chief Justice of the United States since 2005. Described as a moderate conservative, he is respected for his institutionalist approach and willingness to collaborate with the Court's liberal members. This positions him as a potential swing vote on crucial decisions.
1928: Birth of John Glover "Jack" Roberts Sr.
John Glover "Jack" Roberts Sr., John Roberts's father, was born in 1928.
1929: Birth of Rosemary Podrasky
Rosemary Podrasky, who would later become John Roberts's mother, was born in 1929.
January 27, 1955: Birth of John Roberts
John Glover Roberts Jr. was born on January 27, 1955. He would go on to become a prominent figure in the American legal system.
1965: Focus on the Voting Rights Act
During his time as an assistant to the attorney general, John Roberts focused on the Voting Rights Act of 1965, particularly Sections 2 and 5. He believed these sections were overly intrusive on state regulations.
1965: Move to Long Beach, Indiana
In 1965, ten-year-old John Roberts and his family relocated to Long Beach, Indiana. This move marked a change in scenery and educational opportunities for Roberts.
1973: Graduation from La Lumiere School
John Roberts graduated as valedictorian from La Lumiere School in 1973, becoming the first graduate to attend Harvard University.
1976: Graduation from Harvard College
John Roberts graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts in history. His academic excellence earned him membership in Phi Beta Kappa.
1979: Clerkship for Judge Henry Friendly
Beginning in 1979, John Roberts served as a law clerk for Judge Henry Friendly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Friendly, a highly influential judge, was impressed by Roberts's work, and the two developed a strong bond.
1979: Graduation from Harvard Law School
John Roberts graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1979, achieving the top rank in his class.
1980: Decision to Work for the Reagan Administration
Following the 1980 presidential election, John Roberts decided to pursue a career path within the newly elected Reagan administration.
1980: Clerkship for Justice William Rehnquist
John Roberts began clerking for Justice William Rehnquist at the U.S. Supreme Court in 1980. This clerkship offered invaluable experience at the highest level of the judicial system.
August 1981: Joining the Department of Justice
In August 1981, John Roberts joined the Department of Justice as a special assistant to the attorney general after being admitted to the District of Columbia bar. One of his first tasks was assisting Sandra Day O'Connor in preparation for her confirmation hearings.
1981: Conclusion of Rehnquist Clerkship
John Roberts concluded his clerkship with Justice Rehnquist in 1981.
1982: Joining the White House Counsel
John Roberts joined the White House Counsel in 1982 as an associate, marking his entry into the executive branch.
1986: Entering Private Practice
John Roberts left his position at the White House Counsel in 1986 to join the law firm Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells) as an associate. He specialized in corporate law.
1989: Principal Deputy Solicitor General
John Roberts re-entered government service in 1989 when he assumed the role of Principal Deputy Solicitor General under President George H. W. Bush.
1992: Return to Hogan & Hartson and Georgetown University
After President Bush's defeat in the 1992 presidential election, John Roberts returned to Hogan & Hartson as a partner, leading the firm's appellate practice. Additionally, he took on a role as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center.
1992: Nomination to the D.C. Circuit (Unsuccessful)
In 1992, President Bush nominated John Roberts to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. However, the nomination failed to proceed to a Senate vote and eventually expired.
1993: Previous Seizure Experience
John Roberts's 2007 seizure was not his first; he had experienced a similar episode in 1993. Despite a neurological evaluation at the time not revealing any significant concerns, this earlier incident adds context to his health experiences.
1994: Last Supreme Court Nomination Before Roberts
The nomination of John Roberts to the Supreme Court marked the first time since Stephen Breyer in 1994 that a Supreme Court nomination had taken place.
July 27, 1996: Marriage to Jane Sullivan
John Roberts and Jane Sullivan were married on July 27, 1996, marking the beginning of their life together. Jane Sullivan, a lawyer herself, went on to achieve prominence as a legal recruiter. The couple, residing in Chevy Chase, Maryland, expanded their family through the adoption of two children, John "Jack" and Josephine "Josie."
1996: Pro Bono Work for Romer v. Evans
John Roberts engaged in pro bono work for gay rights advocates in 1996, contributing to the Supreme Court case Romer v. Evans. This case, decided in 1996, was a landmark victory for the gay rights movement.
1999: Radio Interview on Federalism
John Roberts discussed his views on federalism in a radio interview in 1999.
2000: Advising Jeb Bush on the Florida Election Recount
In 2000, John Roberts served as an advisor to Jeb Bush, the then-governor of Florida, during the controversial recount of votes in the presidential election.
May 9, 2001: Nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals
On May 9, 2001, President George W. Bush nominated John Roberts to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, replacing the retired Judge James L. Buckley.
January 7, 2003: Renomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals
With the GOP regaining control of the Senate, President Bush resubmitted John Roberts's nomination for the U.S. Court of Appeals on January 7, 2003.
May 8, 2003: Confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals
John Roberts was confirmed as a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals on May 8, 2003.
June 2, 2003: Commissioning to the U.S. Court of Appeals
John Roberts received his commission for the U.S. Court of Appeals on June 2, 2003, marking the beginning of his tenure.
2003: Appointment to the D.C. Circuit
In 2003, President George W. Bush appointed John Roberts as an appellate judge of the D.C. Circuit. This appointment marked a significant step in his judicial career.
July 19, 2005: Nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court (O'Connor Vacancy)
John Roberts was nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Bush on July 19, 2005, to fill Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's soon-to-be-vacant seat.
September 3, 2005: Death of Chief Justice Rehnquist
On September 3, 2005, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist passed away while Roberts's confirmation to the Supreme Court was still pending.
September 29, 2005: Taking the Constitutional Oath of Office
John Roberts officially took the Constitutional oath of office on September 29, 2005, administered by Associate Justice John Paul Stevens at the White House.
2005: Significance of Romer v. Evans
By 2005, Romer v. Evans, to which John Roberts had contributed pro bono work, had become recognized as a pivotal legal victory for the gay rights movement.
2005: John Roberts Becomes Chief Justice
In 2005, John Roberts became the 17th chief justice of the United States. This marked a significant milestone in his career.
2005: Nomination to the Supreme Court
John Roberts's career reached new heights in 2005 when President Bush nominated him to the Supreme Court. While initially intended to fill a different vacancy, Roberts was ultimately nominated to be Chief Justice.
January 17, 2006: Dissent in Gonzales v. Oregon (Assisted Suicide Case)
John Roberts, alongside Justices Scalia and Thomas, dissented in the Gonzales v. Oregon case on January 17, 2006. The case centered around the Controlled Substances Act and its interpretation in relation to physician-assisted suicide in Oregon.
March 6, 2006: Unanimous Decision in Rumsfeld v. FAIR (Military Recruiters on Campus)
John Roberts authored the unanimous decision in the Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights (FAIR) case on March 6, 2006. The ruling mandated that colleges receiving federal funds must permit military recruiters on campus, despite objections to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
June 29, 2006: Supreme Court Overturns Roberts' Decision
On June 29, 2006, a decision John Roberts participated in as a circuit judge regarding judicial review of military commission results was overturned by the Supreme Court in a 5-3 vote. Roberts recused himself from the case.
2006: Dissent in Georgia v. Randolph
In 2006, John Roberts wrote his first dissent in the case of Georgia v. Randolph. He disagreed with the majority's decision to bar police from searching a home when one occupant objects, even if the other consents. Roberts argued that this ruling contradicted previous case law and relied too heavily on perceived social customs rather than the Fourth Amendment's protection of privacy.
2007: Vote to Uphold Partial-Birth Abortion Ban
In 2007, John Roberts voted with the majority in Gonzales v. Carhart to uphold the constitutionality of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. The decision, while leaving room for future challenges, marked a significant moment in the debate surrounding abortion rights.
2007: Honorary Degree and Commencement Address at Holy Cross
In 2007, John Roberts was recognized by his alma mater, the College of the Holy Cross, with an honorary degree. He also delivered the commencement address at the college that year, marking a significant return to his academic roots.
2007: Ruling on Student Free Speech in Morse v. Frederick
In 2007, Roberts authored the decision in Morse v. Frederick, a case involving student free speech. He ruled that a student in a public school-sponsored activity does not have the right to advocate drug use, emphasizing that free speech rights are not absolute, especially in a school setting.
2007: Health Scare in Maine
While at his vacation home in St. George, Maine, in 2007, John Roberts experienced a seizure, leading to an overnight stay at a hospital in Rockport, Maine. Doctors could not pinpoint the cause of the seizure.
2008: Death of John Glover "Jack" Roberts Sr.
John Roberts's father, John Glover "Jack" Roberts Sr., passed away in 2008.
April 20, 2010: Striking Down Animal Cruelty Law in United States v. Stevens
On April 20, 2010, Roberts wrote the majority opinion in United States v. Stevens, striking down a federal law that criminalized the creation, sale, or possession of depictions of animal cruelty. The court found the law overly broad and in violation of the First Amendment's free speech protections.
2010: Concurrence in Citizens United v. FEC (Campaign Finance Case)
John Roberts agreed with the majority in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), a landmark campaign finance case.
June 28, 2012: Upholding the Affordable Care Act in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius
In a landmark decision on June 28, 2012, Roberts delivered the majority opinion in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius. The 5-4 ruling upheld the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as "Obamacare," but not on the grounds many expected. While the court found that the Commerce Clause did not justify the individual mandate (requiring most Americans to have health insurance), it determined that the mandate could be construed as a tax and was therefore within Congress's taxing power.
2013: Shelby County v. Holder: A Landmark Decision on Voting Rights
In 2013, Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion in Shelby County v. Holder, a case that significantly impacted voting rights in the United States. The decision struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, removing the requirement for certain states and localities with a history of racial discrimination in voting to obtain federal approval before changing their election laws. This ruling has been widely debated, with proponents arguing for states' rights and opponents expressing concerns about potential voter disenfranchisement.
2013: Majority Opinion in Hollingsworth v. Perry
In 2013, Roberts wrote the majority opinion in Hollingsworth v. Perry, a case centered on same-sex marriage in California. The 5-4 ruling held that the petitioners, who were defending Proposition 8 (a ban on same-sex marriage), lacked standing to sue. This effectively allowed same-sex marriages to resume in California.
2014: Plurality Opinion in McCutcheon v. FEC (Campaign Finance Case)
In McCutcheon v. FEC (2014), John Roberts penned the plurality opinion, striking down "aggregate limits" on donor contributions to federal candidates and parties as a violation of the First Amendment.
November 4, 2016: Deciding Vote to Stay an Execution
On November 4, 2016, Roberts cast the deciding vote in a 5-3 decision to stay an execution. This demonstrates his role in capital punishment cases.
2016: Ranked Among the World's Most Powerful People
In 2016, John Roberts was ranked the 50th most powerful person globally by Forbes.
2016: Majority Opinion in Utah v. Strieff
In 2016, Roberts sided with the majority in Utah v. Strieff, a 5-3 ruling that upheld the admissibility of evidence found during a search following an arrest, even if the initial stop was unlawful. The court reasoned that a preexisting warrant validates the search, regardless of the stop's legality.
2016: Upholding Texas Abortion Restrictions (Later Reversed)
In 2016, Roberts voted to uphold Texas abortion restrictions in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, a decision later reversed. This highlights the evolving nature of abortion law and Roberts' role in shaping it.
June 26, 2018: Upholding the Trump Administration's Travel Ban
In Trump v. Hawaii, on June 26, 2018, Roberts authored the majority opinion that upheld the Trump administration's travel ban targeting seven countries.
November 2018: Roberts Responds to Trump's Criticism of Judges
In November 2018, John Roberts responded to President Trump's labeling of a judge as an "Obama judge." Roberts defended the judiciary, stating that judges are impartial and do their best to uphold justice.
2018: Declining to Hear Case on Planned Parenthood Funding
Roberts joined four liberal justices in 2018, declining to hear a case seeking to deny Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood. This decision effectively upheld lower court rulings in favor of Planned Parenthood.
2018: Majority Opinion in Carpenter v. United States
John Roberts authored the majority opinion in the landmark 2018 case of Carpenter v. United States. The 5-4 ruling established that searching cell phone data generally requires a warrant, marking a significant decision regarding digital privacy.
February 7, 2019: Rejecting Request to Delay Execution
On February 7, 2019, Roberts joined the majority in a 5-4 decision denying a Muslim inmate's request to delay his execution to have an imam present.
2019: Blocking Louisiana Abortion Restriction
In 2019, Roberts sided with liberal justices to temporarily block a Louisiana abortion restriction. This move highlighted his complex stance on abortion, as he had previously voted to uphold a similar law.
2019: Death of Rosemary Roberts
Rosemary Roberts, John Roberts's mother, passed away in 2019.
February 5, 2020: Presiding Over Trump's First Impeachment Trial
John Roberts, in his role as Chief Justice, presided over the first impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, which concluded on February 5, 2020.
June 21, 2020: Fall and Hospitalization
On June 21, 2020, John Roberts experienced a fall at a Maryland country club, resulting in a forehead injury that required sutures and necessitating an overnight hospital stay for observation. Doctors, ruling out a seizure, attributed the incident to dehydration that likely caused light-headedness.
October 2020: Rejecting Appeal from Kim Davis on Same-Sex Marriage Licenses
In October 2020, Roberts joined a unanimous decision to reject an appeal from Kim Davis, a Kentucky county clerk who had refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. This decision affirmed the Supreme Court's stance on marriage equality.
2020: Striking Down Louisiana Abortion Law
In June Medical Services, LLC v. Russo (2020), Roberts joined the majority to strike down a Louisiana abortion law similar to one he previously supported. He cited respect for precedent (stare decisis) as his reason, marking the first time he voted to invalidate an abortion regulation.
2020: Impact of Shelby County v. Holder on Voting Rights
By 2020, the impact of the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision on voting rights was evident. Studies revealed a significant increase in voter registration purges and closures of polling places, predominantly in areas with large African American populations. This fueled ongoing debates about the decision's consequences for voting access and potential for discriminatory practices.
September 2021: Minority Vote on Texas Heartbeat Act
In September 2021, Roberts joined the minority in a 5-4 vote, declining to block the enforcement of the Texas Heartbeat Act. The law, banning abortion after six weeks, faced criticism and legal challenges, but Roberts' vote demonstrated his stance on the issue.
November 2021: Supreme Court Rulings on Religious Liberty Cases
In November 2021, Chief Justice John Roberts participated in several Supreme Court decisions related to religious liberty. He joined the majority in declining to hear an appeal from a Washington State florist who refused service to a same-sex couple, and voted with the majority in rejecting an appeal from a Catholic hospital seeking to deny a hysterectomy to a transgender patient. These decisions highlight Roberts's role in shaping the court's stance on the intersection of religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights.
July 9, 2022: Majority Opinion in Trump v. Vance (Presidential Immunity from Subpoenas)
John Roberts wrote the majority opinion in Trump v. Vance on July 9, 2022, addressing presidential immunity regarding criminal subpoenas for personal information. Roberts rejected absolute immunity arguments and affirmed the public's right to evidence, even from the President.
2022: Shifting Dynamics on the Supreme Court
Commentators suggested that the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett in 2022 shifted the balance of the Supreme Court, potentially diminishing Roberts's influence.
2022: Concurrence in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization
Roberts declined to join the majority in overturning Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case in 2022. He wrote a concurring opinion supporting only the Mississippi abortion statute and stating that while there is a right to abortion it "need not extend any further" than ensuring a "reasonable opportunity to choose."
June 29, 2023: Majority Opinion in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina
On June 29, 2023, Roberts delivered the majority opinion in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina, which effectively ended race-based affirmative action in both public and private universities in the United States. Roberts wrote that the programs violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
2023: Allen v. Milligan: Upholding Voting Rights Act Protections
In 2023, Chief Justice John Roberts played a pivotal role in Allen v. Milligan, a voting rights case concerning Alabama's congressional redistricting plan. Joining the liberal justices, Roberts formed part of a 5-4 majority that found Alabama's plan to violate the Voting Rights Act. The decision, with Roberts authoring the majority opinion, reaffirmed the constitutionality of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in the context of redistricting, highlighting its continued relevance in ensuring equal voting opportunities.
2023: Henry J. Friendly Medal Award
John Roberts's contributions to the legal field were acknowledged in 2023 when he was bestowed with the prestigious Henry J. Friendly Medal by the American Law Institute. This award further solidified his standing as a prominent figure in the legal community.