Supreme Court Nominee Was CUAdvocate

WASHINGTON - (07/21/05) -- John Roberts, the appeals courtjudge nominated Wednesday to the Supreme Court by President Bushwill forever hold a place in credit union history as one of thechief defenders of NCUA's multiple groups policy before the SupremeCourt in the landmark AT&T Family FCU case. Roberts, then anattorney for Washington-based Hogan & Hartson, argued thecredit union case on behalf of CUNA and NAFCU who were defendingNCUA's policy. Roberts, who had clerked for then associate JusticeWilliam Rehnquist and had argued numerous cases before the HighCourt, was hired for his knowledge of the different justices,according to Eric Richard, general counsel for CUNA, who emphasizedthat Roberts argued the credit union case as if he were a long-timeadvocate. "He was a real pro," Richard told The Credit UnionJournal. NCUA General Counsel Robert Fenner said Roberts arguedalong side of then Advocate General Seth Waxman, who made the maincredit union argument on behalf of the U.S. Justice Department. "Hewas a very impressive guy; a brilliant lawyer, and a very decentman," said Fenner.