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The Daily OrangeJohn Roberts discusses Constitution, founder's intentions during speech
More than 1,000 pack Hendricks Chapel for keynote address
By Melanie Hicken
Posted: 9/19/07, 5:15 PM EST Section: News
SEPT. 19, 5:15 P.M. -- To Chief Justice John Roberts, the First Amendment would have little meaning without an independent judiciary to give it life.
"Without an independent judiciary to give substance to the constitution as law, the words are nothing but empty promises," he said to a crowd of more than 1,000 Wednesday afternoon.
Faculty, staff, alumni, donors and students filled Hendricks Chapel to the brim to hear Roberts speak in honor of the third building of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications complex. Newhouse Dean David Rubin and Samuel I. Newhouse Jr. introduced Roberts.
The focus of the Newhouse III celebration has been looking to the future. But the focus of Roberts' speech was on the past. He spent most of his address discussing the Constitution and the founder's intentions with the First Amendment.
"The framers of the First Amendment knew the important of the free press based on the painful experience of living without one," he said.
Near the middle of his speech, he emphasized his belief that a judiciary is needed to uphold the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights by reciting words from the Soviet Union's constitution.
"So by all means celebrate the words of the First Amendment," he said. "But remember also the words of the Soviet constitution. It is not just the words. It is the constitutional system of separated powers."
Roberts also spoke about the First Amendment's role in protecting unpopular speech.
"We don't need the first Amendment to protect speech that is trendy, conventional popular or politically correct," he said. "The framers knew that we needed to protect unpopular ideas, which is particularly keen in the area of political debate."
The Supreme Court's insulation from public opinion through life tenure and secured pay has allowed them to be free to make unpopular decisions, he said.
"The courts have responded, often in the face of contrary public opinion," he said. "The courts have given the First Amendment's inspirational words its vitality. And many of the decisions doing so protect unpopular speech."
"Without an independent judiciary to give substance to the constitution as law, the words are nothing but empty promises," he said to a crowd of more than 1,000 Wednesday afternoon.
Faculty, staff, alumni, donors and students filled Hendricks Chapel to the brim to hear Roberts speak in honor of the third building of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications complex. Newhouse Dean David Rubin and Samuel I. Newhouse Jr. introduced Roberts.
The focus of the Newhouse III celebration has been looking to the future. But the focus of Roberts' speech was on the past. He spent most of his address discussing the Constitution and the founder's intentions with the First Amendment.
"The framers of the First Amendment knew the important of the free press based on the painful experience of living without one," he said.
Near the middle of his speech, he emphasized his belief that a judiciary is needed to uphold the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights by reciting words from the Soviet Union's constitution.
"So by all means celebrate the words of the First Amendment," he said. "But remember also the words of the Soviet constitution. It is not just the words. It is the constitutional system of separated powers."
Roberts also spoke about the First Amendment's role in protecting unpopular speech.
"We don't need the first Amendment to protect speech that is trendy, conventional popular or politically correct," he said. "The framers knew that we needed to protect unpopular ideas, which is particularly keen in the area of political debate."
The Supreme Court's insulation from public opinion through life tenure and secured pay has allowed them to be free to make unpopular decisions, he said.
"The courts have responded, often in the face of contrary public opinion," he said. "The courts have given the First Amendment's inspirational words its vitality. And many of the decisions doing so protect unpopular speech."
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