Campaign for Consumer Choice Retained Supreme Court Nominee

WASHINGTON-U.S. Supreme Court Nominee Judge John G. Roberts, nominated by President George W. Bush just last week to serve as an Associate Justice, has a credit union connection. "When our field of membership case went to the Supreme Court, CUNA and NAFCU intervened.and he argued for them before the Supreme Court," NCUA General Counsel Bob Fenner told Credit Union Times. It was in 1997 Roberts represented CUNA and NAFCU, unsuccessfully, in the AT&T Family Federal Credit Union v. First National Bank and Trust Co. case before the Supreme Court. The loss endangered the membership of millions of credit union members nationwide, but the following year credit unions pushed the Credit Union Membership Access Act (H.R. 1151) through Congress. Roberts joined the Washington, D.C. office of Hogan & Hartson in 1986 and made partner by 1988. He served there until 1989 to become principal deputy solicitor general of the United States, where he remained until 1993. He then returned to Hogan & Hartson to lead the firm's appellate practice group. Judge Roberts has served on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia since June 2003. "We wish him well through the nomination process," NAFCU Communications Manager Rebecca Somers said. "We think very highly of his work and highly agile legal mind. We know he will be fair and thoughtful if appointed to the Supreme Court." CUNA General Counsel Eric Richard said, "John Roberts is enormously talented with an exceedingly bright legal mind. CUNA and the credit union movement were privileged to have been represented by him. We wish Judge Roberts all the best." NCUA's Fenner commented, "I can tell you everything you've been reading about him and heard about him last night is true." He reported being very impressed with Roberts and that he is a brilliant lawyer and decent human being. "John Roberts is a wonderful person who was a terrific partner and colleague to all of us at Hogan & Hartson. He was one of the most respected and well-liked lawyers in the firm," J. Warren Gorrell, Jr., chairman of Hogan & Hartson, commented. "His intellect and legal abilities are unsurpassed. He was widely respected as one of the best and most distinguished lawyers in the country, and at the same time he has always been humble, down-to-earth, and a team player who is quick to recognize the contributions of others. He is fair-minded and of unquestioned integrity. We are enormously fond and proud of Judge Roberts and are certain he would serve with distinction on the Court." -scooke@cutimes.com