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JUNE 27, 2001

A Washington, DC, lawyer who represented the state of Alaska in the historic Venetie case has been given a "well-qualified" rating by the American Bar Association, the Washington Post reports today.

John G. Roberts received the rating because he has been nominated to the federal bench by President Bush. He would sit on the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, a court which hears a number of cases affecting tribes.

Roberts, a lawyer with Hogan & Hartson, successfully argued before the Supreme Court in 1998 that there is no Indian Country in Alaska. The ruling was a blow to Alaska Native sovereignty.

Roberts also represented the state of Hawaii in the Rice v. Cayetano case. He lost, resulting in widespread changes to Native Hawaiian programs as administered by the state.

The ABA used to have a preferential role in the consideration of judicial nominess. Bush ended that oversight role but the organization, like any other, will still weigh in on nominees.

Get the Story:
ABA Weighs In On President's Court Nominees (The Washington Post 6/27)

More on Roberts:
Bush nominee familiar with Indian law (5/9)

Get the Alaska v. Venetie Case:
Syllabus | Opinion

Get the Rice v. Cayetano Case:
Syllabus | Opinion | Concurrence Dissent (Stevens) | Dissent (Ginsburg)