Chief Justice John Roberts Watch: The John Roberts Era Begins

At 10:35 a.m., new Chief Justice John Roberts opened the 2005-2006 Supreme Court session on Monday and launched the highest U.S. judicial body into the Roberts era, which could last for decades.

“On behalf of all the members of the court, it is a pleasure to extend to you a warm welcome,” Justice
John Paul Stevens told the conservative Roberts before the official opening in a brief ceremony attended by
President George W. Bush.

Stevens wished Roberts “a long and happy career in our common calling” as the country’s 17th chief justice. Roberts succeeds his mentor,
William Rehnquist, who died a month ago after 33 years as the court’s foremost conservative voice.

Roberts, at 50, is the youngest chief justice in more than two centuries. He takes over a court in which every other member has as least 11 years seniority and one, Stevens, has 30. In a lifetime post, Roberts could have a major impact on the legal system.

Roberts, who spoke of the need of judges to be modest before his confirmation, entered the courtroom with his eight fellow justices dressed in a plain black robe like them.

Gone were the four gold stripes Rehnquist added to each sleeve before presiding over the Senate impeachment trial of President
Bill Clinton in 1999 — an adornment inspired by a costume in a Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera.

Roberts said he was happy to announce the opening of the session that will run until June, then immediately went into the first arguments of the term.

And so the John Robert’s era begins for the United States Supreme Court.

In this artist’s rendering, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, right, with Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, left to right, David Souter, Antonin Scalia, and John Paul Stevens, takes the bench for the first time, Monday, Oct 3, 2005 in Washington.

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