WASHINGTON, DC – By a vote of 78 - 22, Judge John G. Roberts was confirmed today by the United States Senate to be the seventeenth Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) today issued the following statement upon his confirmation:

“I believe our nation will be served well with Judge Roberts as the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. He is a man of great intellect and integrity, and he is eminently qualified for this position. During the twenty hours of testimony he provided before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the nation learned a great deal about how Judge Roberts views the judicial role and what kind of service he will provide the nation as Chief Justice. I believe he understands that the role of the judiciary is to interpret the law – not make law. It is clear that his goal will be to fairly and effectively interpret the Constitution and the law without prejudice and with the utmost respect for the rule of law.”

“I commend President Bush for his continued efforts to put judges in place who respect the rule of law. I believe that Judge Roberts is a shining example of this type of jurist, and there is no doubt in my mind that he will serve our nation well as our seventeenth Chief Justice.”

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