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Original Post:
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| But enough about you . . . |
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| Wed, September 19, 2007 |
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Chief Justice John Roberts closed his second of two speeches at the Newhouse III dedication this afternoon with a bit of advice. Baking in a hot sun, which Roberts joked was the best antidote for long speeches -- just as Brandeis called speech the best disinfectant -- he ended his two-minute ribbon-cutting remarks with stern advice for our journalism students: "Don't blow it."
Well, right back at ya, chief.
Roberts' outdoor quip came in the second phase of a ceremony that began in the majestic Hendricks Chapel. There, Roberts gave the keynote speech that was billed in advance as a First Amendment address. I had hopes that he would say something original, something provocative. Something, you know, demonstrating the virtues of candor. Instead, the chief justice gave us boilerplate First Amendment history and principles. It was mannerly and polished and unremarkable. But where he really blew it was in his real message. Rather than say something substantive, pro or con, about the evolution of First Amendment law; rather than scold journalists for exercising their freedoms irresponsibly (the so-very-brief point of his outdoor kicker); and rather than announce new policy stance on, say, cameras in the court or same-day access to audio recordings or oral arguments, the chief punted. And he did so in a rather self-absorbed way.
He turned his First Amendment speech into a judicial independence speech. Returning to a theme that's both safe and commonplace for judges these days, Roberts preached the virtues of an independent judiciary as protector of a free press. "Do not think for a moment that those words alone will protect you," he said, referring to the First Amendment inscription that's wrapped around our new building. The Soviet Union had similar words but not an independent judiciary, he said, quoting from the evil empire's "constitution."
Everything he said is true, germane, and important. But also a terribly crabbed and egotistical take on the First Amendment. In short, you can thank me for your freedoms -- so don't join the judge-bashers.
I'll take the scold whose view of our First Amendment freedoms is more limited than mine -- the Roberts who made a brief appearance in the sunshine outside the new building -- over the cautious bureaucrat who got up on stage and blew his chance to say something important.
Update: Tony Mauro (particularly in an update to his live-blogging from the Roberts speech) has a different reaction worth reading here.
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Posted at 04:15 PM
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There are 4 comments to this post:
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| emil300 commented: |
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s I wondered if that yellow paper crane was symbolic of what was to come, the speech began. The Chief was eloquent, witty, and terribly safe. He spoke about words of freedom needing to be rooted in action. But when he failed to talk about current pressing issues I realized his was just another borrowed empty speech. anunturi
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Posted Mon, April 20, 2009 at 04:15 PM
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| Yanira Rodriguez commented: |
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| IT MEANT NOTHING... |
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As one of the “fortunate” students who got a ticket to attend Chief Justice John Roberts’s speech yesterday I dressed up for the event in an attempt to be a part of something important.
When I arrived there was one protestor sitting on a lawn chair in front of Hendricks Chapel. His lone sign read “Bong Hits for Jesus.” I don’t even think he was a student. But inside, most of the general admission seats allocated to students and the press were full. The others, seats for important folks, filled up slowly.
The center balcony was crowded with photographers and camera crews all scrambling to get the best angle to capture the speech. Front right was Tony Mauro with his laptop. To his right sat Dahlia Lithwick clutching a legal pad. A random man had asked Mauro if he could sit next to them. As Mauro and Lithwick laughed at something in the crowd, the man pulled a small yellow paper crane from his pocket and set it on the balcony’s banister.
No one seemed to spot the crane. The photographers and camera crew overlooked it and not even Mauro who was sitting right in front of it seemed to notice it was there.
As I wondered if that yellow paper crane was symbolic of what was to come, the speech began. The Chief was eloquent, witty, and terribly safe. He spoke about words of freedom needing to be rooted in action. But when he failed to talk about current pressing issues I realized his was just another borrowed empty speech.
At the end while everyone clapped ceremoniously and I walked away asking myself ‘why on earth did I wear black on such a hot day?’ I decided to at least find out what the yellow paper crane meant.
“It means absolutely nothing,” the man said. He had seen someone making them at the student center and picked one up.
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Posted Thu, September 20, 2007 at 03:09 PM
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| Paul Brady commented: |
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It's not reassuring to hear the Chief Justice sound so skeptical of journalists exercising their rights. But I suppose we should just roll over and let Judge Roberts and the rest of his "independent" friends handle things. Certainly wouldn't want to blow it by speaking truth to power!
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Posted Wed, September 19, 2007 at 06:19 PM
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| dharma bum commented: |
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| Justice Roberts |
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Well said, sir.
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Posted Wed, September 19, 2007 at 04:45 PM
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