To what political party does Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. belong?

Answer 1

US Supreme Court justices are typically not vocal about their party affiliations, but Roberts' political history and personal ideology indicates he is probably a Republican.

Roberts graduated from Harvard Law School, then clerked for Chief Justice Rehnquist, another conservative Republican. He accepted a position in the Attorney General's office during the Reagan administration, and later became Associate Counsel to President Reagan.

Roberts also served as Deputy Solicitor General under Republican leadership, then entered private practice during the Clinton administration. Roberts argued 39 cases before the Rehnquist Court.

George H. W. Bush appointed Roberts to a judgeship on the DC Circuit, but Roberts resigned after two years and went into private practice, where he remained throughout the Clinton administration.

In 2001, President George W. Bush nominated Roberts to a judicial position on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which is considered the most prestigious and important appellate court below the Supreme Court.

In 2005, Bush nominated Roberts to replace Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who announced her retirement in 2005. Before the Senate could confirm the nomination, however, Chief Justice William Rehnquist died and Bush withdrew Roberts' nomination for Associate Justice in favor of making him a candidate to replace Rehnquist (which postponed O'Connor's resignation until 2006, when Samuel Alito replaced her on the Court). Roberts was confirmed by a Republican-lead Senate by a vote of 78-22.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., is considered an ideological conservative.