DREAMY:

An Opening Performance Worthy of an Experienced Lawyer (LINDA GREENHOUSE, 9/13/05, NY Times)

This time, John Roberts's client was himself.

After arguing 39 cases before the Supreme Court, spending the last eight weeks in the public spotlight and listening for more than three hours on Monday as 18 senators expressed their admiration and doubts, the Supreme Court nominee took just seven minutes to paint a verbal self-portrait in the opening statement of his confirmation hearing.

Judge Roberts said he was a humble servant of the rule of law. He had "no agenda," "no platform;" he was nothing but an umpire, calling balls and strikes.

The White House team handling his nomination as chief justice had not seen the statement in advance, and Judge Roberts had not rehearsed it before the "murder board" that helped prepare him for the confirmation process. He spoke without notes.

It was a performance that lawyers arguing before the Supreme Court can only dream of.