It's Official: Judge John G. Roberts Is the SCOTUS Nominee!!!

President Bush's announcement was a bit anticlimactic, since word got out well before the conference began: President Bush has nominated Judge John G. Roberts, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, to serve an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States!

Judge Roberts's selection makes perfect sense -- and it just goes to show that Washington is more like Hollywood than one might think. In picking his nominee, President Bush thought just like a Tinseltown casting director: When in doubt, go with the good-looking one!*

A3G did tune in to tonight's broadcast, even though the choice of the nominee was no longer a surprise by the time the news conference began. Here are her "liveblogging" observations:

--Oh look, it's President Bush. But who cares about the President? (Who do you think I am, Article II Groupie?) Tonight the spotlight is on Judge John Roberts.

--And boy does he belong in the spotlight! Judge Roberts is lookin' super-hunky tonight, much younger than his 50 years. He's not the #5 Superhottie of the Federal Judiciary for nothing! His hair is neatly shorn (although is that a tiny bald spot at the top?), and the adorable dimple in his chin is making A3G dizzy (or maybe it's because she hasn't eaten dinner yet)...

--In terms of attire, Judge Roberts is wearing the Federalist Society power outfit: immaculate dark suit, white shirt, and red-and-gold striped tie. It's conservative, yet mainstream -- exactly what Judge Roberts wants to convey to the Senate about his jurisprudence.

--The President starts talking about Judge Roberts's background. There's some interesting stuff here; of course, A3G will be following up with more tidbits (please email her with good stuff about Judge Roberts). President Bush mentions that Judge Roberts was born in Buffalo, grew up in Indiana, and was the captain of his high school football team. Hunky hunky hunky!

--Now the President starts talking about John Roberts's record of achievement within the legal profession. Nothing new here: Harvard College, Harvard Law School, clerk to then-Associate Justice Rehnquist, White House counsel's office, Solicitor General's office, 39 cases argued before the Supreme Court, etc., etc.

--Back to the personal: President Bush mentions that Judge Roberts's wife, Jane Roberts, and their two children, Jack and Josie, are in attendance. Will we get to see them?

--Now President Bush yields the podium to Judge Roberts. Hubba hubba! As one might expect from one of the best Supreme Court oral advocates ever, Judge Roberts is an amazing speaker. If he loses his Supreme Court confirmation battle and then leaves the D.C. Circuit, a la Robert Bork, Judge Roberts could have a promising career as a newscaster!

--Judge Roberts talks about how honored and humbled he is to be selected as President Bush's nominee. Apparently these lines got edited out of his remarks: "It is both an honor and very humbling to be nominated to serve on the Supreme Court. Indeed, I have not been this honored since I was named the fifth most handsome federal judge in the United States by the blog Underneath Their Robes."

--Judge Roberts issues the requisite shout-outs to his loved ones. Like a good Oscar nominee, he thanks his parents, Jack and Rosemary Roberts; his three sisters, Cathy, Peggy, and Barbara; and his wife, Jane Roberts. He also acknowledges his two kids, Josie and Jack.

--The camera now pulls back to include Jane Roberts in the frame. (Click here and here for pics of Jane Roberts and the two adorable Roberts kids, clad in pastel blue and yellow.) A3G hates to sound petty, but she reluctantly must give Mrs. Roberts's outfit a "thumbs down." Pink was too daring a color for an event like this one, the suit was too low-cut, and the lapels were far too wide. As for her appearance, Mrs. Roberts looks a bit like Judge Priscilla Owen.

Okay, much more about Judge John Roberts will follow in short order. For now, A3G just wants to say: Judge Roberts is brilliant, handsome, and by all accounts a wonderful human being. In short, he's a superb choice for the Supreme Court. A3G wishes him the very best of luck in making his way back to One First Street!

* Some observers appear to disagree with the UTR readers who voted Judge Roberts a superhottie of the federal judiciary. Wonkette thinks he looks like Pat Sajak, underHyped says Larry Hagman (of the dearly departed Dallas), and one UTR reader sees a resemblance to Greg Kinnear. A3G sees where they're coming from, but she thinks Judge Roberts is better-looking than all three.

Comments

and his wife, too. first marriages for both?

Even more curious now: why did he marry so late?

[Rick]

Two more:

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/pl/120503supremecourt/im:/050720/photos_pl_afp/050720015410_u59pfxkf_photo0;_ylt=AvI0wPu1zH.6cQPKmvH2SxbmWMcF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5bGcyMWMzBHNlYwNzc25hdg--

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/pl/120503supremecourt/im:/050720/480/whcd11807200147;_ylt=Ai7HIwo2Papdrf9ATXJNSlJsaMYA;_ylu=X3oDMTA5bGcyMWMzBHNlYwNzc25hdg--

[Rick]

Here is a photo link to Roberts' family from yahoo:

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/pl/120503supremecourt/im:/050720/photos_ts/mdf614514;_ylt=Ak5piDgQKinIW3eQxXDpwQ1rWscF;_ylu=X3oDMTA3dmhrOGVvBHNlYwNzc20-#