The White House plans to release most of U.S. Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr.'s government documents but will withhold those from a key period.

The White House will release records related to Roberts' work as special assistant to Attorney General William French Smith from 1981 to 1982. Papers related to his work in the White House counsel's office from 1982 to 1986 will also be released.

But nothing from Roberts' tenure as deputy solicitor general from 1989 to 1993 will be released. Administration officials cited attorney-client privilege and the deliberative process privilege, according to news reports.

During that time, a key Indian law case went before the high court. It was Duro v. Reina, a challenge to tribal criminal jurisdiction over all Indians. Roberts' name doesn't appear on the Department of Justice's brief in the case.

Get the Story:
White House to Release Early Roberts Papers (The Washington Post 7/26)
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Some Documents of Supreme Court Choice Will Be Released (The New York Times 7/26)
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Relevant Links:
Federal Judicial Nominees, DOJ - http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/nominations.htm
NARF-NCAI Tribal Supreme Court Project - http://www.narf.org/sct/index.html

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