Politics
White House plans to release most Roberts papers


The White House plans to release most of U.S. Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr.'s government documents but will withhold those from a key period.

The White House will release records related to Roberts' work as special assistant to Attorney General William French Smith from 1981 to 1982. Papers related to his work in the White House counsel's office from 1982 to 1986 will also be released.

But nothing from Roberts' tenure as deputy solicitor general from 1989 to 1993 will be released. Administration officials cited attorney-client privilege and the deliberative process privilege, according to news reports.

During that time, a key Indian law case went before the high court. It was Duro v. Reina, a challenge to tribal criminal jurisdiction over all Indians. Roberts' name doesn't appear on the Department of Justice's brief in the case.

Get the Story:
White House to Release Early Roberts Papers (The Washington Post 7/26)
pwpwd
Some Documents of Supreme Court Choice Will Be Released (The New York Times 7/26)
pwnyt

Relevant Links:
Federal Judicial Nominees, DOJ - http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/nominations.htm
NARF-NCAI Tribal Supreme Court Project - http://www.narf.org/sct/index.html

Related Stories:
NARF lawyer fears Roberts will lean conservative (07/21)
Bush names John G. Roberts to Supreme Court (7/20)
Schumer asked about Roberts' views on Natives (7/20)
Rehnquist slaps down retirement rumors (7/15)
NCAI's Hall on picking a Supreme Court justice (7/13)
Mark Trahant: Appoint Indian to U.S. Supreme Court (7/11)
Key Republican speculates on Supreme Court makeup (7/11)
Harjo: O'Connor trampled on Native religious rights (7/8)
Republicans prepare for Rehnquist resignation (7/8)
O'Connor resigns from nation's highest court (7/5)
Justice's tenure filled with key Indian law cases (7/5)
Supreme Court wraps up October 2004 term (06/28)
U.S. Supreme Court vacancy impacts tribal rights (06/20)
High court won't take on Native Hawaiian recognition (06/14)
Appeals court to rehear tribal jurisdiction case (06/08)
Tribal authority over all Indians still unsettled question (06/23)
Myers not included in compromise on Bush judges (05/24)
Tribal sovereignty must be respected, court rules (05/13)
Supreme Court Roundup: Indian law cases rejected (04/19)
Supreme Court refuses Bush appeal of trust case (04/19)
Supreme Court takes drug case tied to peyote use (04/19)
Indian lawyer cites 'hostile' atmosphere in Washington (04/15)
Contracts still an issue despite Supreme Court win (04/14)
Oneida Nation begins land-into-trust process (04/13)
Supreme Court to weigh appeal of trust lawsuit (04/07)
Supreme Court Roundup: Indian law cases rejected (04/19)
Appeals court revives Wind River royalty fraud case (04/07)
BIA official calls high court ruling 'quite depressing' (03/31)
Supreme Court overturns Oneida Nation case (03/30)
Tribes win decision in contract support cost case (03/02)
Supreme Court takes on tribal-state tax dispute (03/01)
Passage of time at issue in Oneida Nation case (01/12)
Supreme Court rejects two Indian law cases (1/12)
U.S. Supreme Court decides cases without Rehnquist (12/14)
U.S. Supreme Court asked to rule on state taxation (12/02)
Peabody takes coal lease dispute to high court (12/01)
Tribal contracts pose conflict for U.S. Supreme Court (11/10)
Court to hear self-determination contract case (11/9)
Supreme Court takes action on Indian law cases (11/02)
Mille Lacs diminishment case before Supreme Court (10/22)
South Dakota challenge to tribes rejected by high court (10/19)
Supreme Court Roundup: 2003-2004 Term (07/08)
Supreme Court affirms tribal powers over all Indians (04/20)
Supreme Court to resolve self-determination dispute (03/23)
Cantwell stresses importance of judicial picks (6/17)
Tribal fears in Supreme Court case go unrealized (5/20)
Supreme Court case too close to call for some (4/1)
Supreme Court tussles with tribal sovereignty case (4/1)
Supreme Court case pits tribes against states (3/31)
Supreme Court panel's predictions mostly came true (3/19)
Appeals court nominees draw fire (1/30)
Bush pick worked on Hicks case (1/30)
Venetie foe up for appeals court again (01/08)
Bush nominee familiar with Indian law (5/9)
Indian Law and the Supreme Court (12/11)