Get to Know a Justice: John G. Roberts

You are familiar with America’s three major branches of government, right? You know it is divided into the executive, legislative, and judicial branch. Each branch is meant to hold the others in check as a way of balancing governmental power.

You know who the head of the executive branch is – one President Barack Obama. Do you know who the head of the judicial branch is? No? Maybe it is time to get to know him! Meeting Chief Justice of the United States, John G. Roberts, Jr.

John Roberts is presiding as the 17^th Chief Justice of the United States. He started the job on September 29, 2005. Chief Justices are always nominated by the current president. At that time it was President George W. Bush. He was nominated to the position after the death of then presiding Chief Justice William Rehnquist.

Judge Roberts was born in Buffalo, New York in 1955. He didn’t stay there long, and spent most of his childhood living in northwest Indiana. He was not only a phenomenal student during his high school years, he was also a star athlete. He served as captain of the school football team and was a regional wrestling champion. His success just continued to grow from there.

He attended Harvard College after high school and graduated in just three years. He received a degree summa cum laude in history. School wasn’t over Judge Roberts. He next attended Harvard Law where he managed the law review and graduated in 1979. His illustrious law career was about to begin!

His first job as a law clerk for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals only lasted a year. He was soon off to bigger and better things. In 1979 he started serving in the Reagan administration! It was already clear, for this law super start, the sky was the limit. 34 years later he attained the highest judicial position a person could attain in the United States!