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• John Roberts is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Roberts was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2005. He replaced long-time Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

  On April 3, 2009, Chief Justice Roberts granted a request from the Obama administration to block the release of 77 incarcerated sexual offenders, even though they had completed their federal prison terms. In his decision Roberts ordered that the sexual offenders could be kept in prison until the court decided whether to hear an appeal filed by the administration. The appeal concerned a Virginia court decision which invalidated a law which allowed the indefinite confinement of "sexually dangerous" inmates.Salon.com: Chief justice blocks release of sex offenders (April 3, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: January 27, 1955
  2. Birthplace: Buffalo, New York
  3. Assumed Office: September 29, 2005
  4. Preceded by: William Rehnquist
  5. Current Chief Justice of the United States
  6. Religion: Catholic
  7. Spouse: Jane Sullivan Roberts
  8. Alma Mater: Harvard University
  9. Administered oath of office to 44th President Barack ObamaWSJ.com: Ceremonies Under Way for Obama's Swearing In (January 20, 2009)

• Career Before Supreme Court

  After graduating from Harvard University law school, Roberts clerked for Chief Justice William Rhenquist, the man he wold eventually replace. He was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia by President George H.W. Bush, but was not confirmed by the senate because Bush's term expired.

• Supreme Court Chief Justice

  Under the leadership of Roberts, the court has shifted to the right, ruling more conservatively on a variety of recent issues. This is due, in part, to the retirement of famed "swing vote" Sandra Day O'Connor, who was replaced by by Justice Samuel Alito. Roberts is the 17th Chief Justice of the United States.

• Inauguration Flub

  On Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009, Roberts swore in President Barack Obama on the Lincoln Bible.The Associated Press: First Inauguration for Roberts as Chief Justice (January 20, 2009) The 35-word oath seemed to get off to a rocky start, NBC said it was Roberts' fault because he did not use notes and "flubbed his lines."First Read (MSNBC): About That Oath Flub (January 19, 2009)

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Barack Obama | Inauguration Day 2009 | The U.S. Supreme Court | Stephen Breyer | John Paul Stevens | Ruth Bader Ginsburg | Antonin Scalia | Anthony Kennedy | David Souter | Clarence Thomas | Samuel Alito | George W. Bush | Federalist Society | Calvin Coolidge | Chester A. Arthur | David Souter Retirement | Sonia Sotomayor

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