John G. Roberts Jr.
Appointed by George W. Bush
Confirmed in 2005
Biography
Chief Justice Roberts has served as the 17th Chief Justice of the United States since 2005. Before his appointment, he served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Ideology Score
Conservative
Based on Martin-Quinn Score Analysis
About Martin-Quinn Scores
Martin-Quinn scores measure judicial ideology based on voting patterns. Negative scores indicate liberal voting patterns, while positive scores indicate conservative patterns. The scale typically ranges from -4 to +4.
Years on Court
21
Since 2005
Appointed By
George W. Bush
2005
Notable Rulings
NFIB v. Sebelius
2012
Upheld the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate as a valid exercise of Congress's taxing power.
Read OpinionShelby County v. Holder
2013
Struck down Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act, ruling the coverage formula unconstitutional.
Read OpinionDepartment of Commerce v. New York
2019
Blocked the Trump administration from adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census.
Read OpinionDobbs v. Jackson Women's Health
2022
Concurred with the majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, ending federal constitutional right to abortion.
Read OpinionCareer Path
Justice William Rehnquist, SCOTUS
DOJ
White House Counsel's Office
Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells)
DOJ
U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
Supreme Court of the United States · 2005–Present
⚠️ Controversies & Allegations (3)
Undisclosed Federalist Society Trip
ProPublica reported Roberts attended a Federalist Society fishing trip in Alaska paid for by Republican donors, not initially disclosed.
Source: ProPublica, 2023
Recusal Refusal on Congressional Subpoena
Roberts declined a Senate Judiciary Committee invitation to testify on SCOTUS ethics, citing separation of powers concerns.
Source: Senate Judiciary Committee, 2023
Wife's Legal Recruiting Fees
Jane Roberts earned $10.3M in legal recruiting fees from firms that have cases before SCOTUS, raising conflict of interest questions.
Source: Senate Finance Committee, 2023
Financial Disclosures
Annual financial disclosure reports as required by the Ethics in Government Act.