John G. Roberts Jr.
Chief Justice of the United States
Born 1955
The 17th Chief Justice who has emphasized judicial minimalism and institutional legitimacy while presiding over a Court navigating intense political polarization.
Biography
John G. Roberts Jr. has served as Chief Justice of the United States since 2005. A former appellate litigator who argued 39 cases before the Supreme Court before joining it, Roberts has sought to preserve the Court's institutional legitimacy through narrow rulings and consensus-building, though his tenure has been marked by some of the most controversial decisions in modern history.
Roberts's most unexpected vote came in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012), where he joined the Court's liberal wing to uphold the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate as a valid exercise of the taxing power, even while finding it exceeded the Commerce Clause. The decision was seen as an effort to preserve the Court's institutional credibility in the face of enormous political pressure.
As Chief Justice, Roberts has authored significant opinions on voting rights, healthcare, executive power, and religious liberty. His approach emphasizes incrementalism and institutional concerns, though critics argue this incrementalism has not prevented dramatic shifts in constitutional law during his tenure.
Major Accomplishments
- 117th Chief Justice of the United States
- 2Argued 39 cases before the Supreme Court as an advocate
- 3Authored the opinion saving the Affordable Care Act in NFIB v. Sebelius
- 4Emphasized judicial minimalism and institutional legitimacy
- 5Managed the Court through a period of intense political polarization
Notable Opinions & Cases
National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius
2012
Upheld the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate as a valid exercise of the taxing power
Shelby County v. Holder
2013
Struck down Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act, removing the coverage formula for federal preclearance
Obergefell v. Hodges (dissent)
2015
Argued that the Constitution does not address same-sex marriage and the issue should be left to democratic processes
Department of Commerce v. New York
2019
Blocked the Trump administration's attempt to add a citizenship question to the census
Legacy
Roberts's legacy is still being written, but his efforts to maintain the Court's institutional standing in an era of deep political polarization have defined his tenure. His willingness to cross ideological lines on high-profile cases has earned both praise for judicial independence and criticism for inconsistency. History's judgment will depend significantly on whether his approach succeeds in preserving public confidence in the judiciary.
Famous Quotes
“Judges are like umpires. Umpires don't make the rules; they apply them.”
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”
“It is not the role of this Court to express any opinion on the merits of same-sex marriage.”
“We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them.”