Nelson Meets With Supreme Court Nominee

NELSON MEETS WITH SUPREME COURT NOMINEE

Nebraska's Senator Says Judge Roberts Said He Would Not Be an Activist Judge

Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson today met with Judge John Roberts, the President's nominee to replace Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court.

"I haven't really focused as much on his [Judge Roberts'] political views because I think political philosophy is interesting but I don't think its dispositive in this case, I'm much more concerned about making sure that we don't get an activist judge," Senator Nelson said after the meeting. "In fact he said he would not be an activist judge."

"I'm just very appreciative of the Senator for making time available to meet with me," Judge Roberts told reporters after the meeting.

In the past, Nelson has made it a point to meet with some of the high profile judicial nominations before deciding his vote on the nominees. Nelson believes that you can't learn everything you need to know about a person from media reports. As a former Governor who appointed the entire Nebraska Supreme Court, the Appeals Court, and about half of the state judges in Nebraska, Nelson believes personal interviews are the best way to get to know a nominee. Nelson has met with Miguel Estrada, Janice Rodgers Brown, and Priscilla Owen among others. Nelson met with Judge Roberts at the request of the White House.

Nelson said he has yet to see anything with regard to Judge Roberts that would lead him to vote against the nomination. "I don't see anything that would be disturbing" to the nomination Nelson said. "I think you've got to keep an open mind until the end of the [confirmation] process."

Nelson is a leader among the so-called "Gang of Fourteen" moderate minded Senators who broke the logjam on judicial nominations in the Senate.

http://bennelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=241999&&