NYT/AP: Chief Justice Roberts Says His Goal Is More Consensus on Court

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Chief Justice Says His Goal Is More Consensus on Court
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 22, 2006

WASHINGTON, May 21 — Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said Sunday that he was seeking greater consensus on the Supreme Court, adding that more consensus would be likely if controversial issues could be decided on the "narrowest possible grounds."

In a 15-minute address to Georgetown University law graduates, Chief Justice Roberts, 51, sketched a vision for leading a court sharply divided on issues like abortion, the death penalty and gay rights.

He said the nation would benefit if the justices could avoid 5-to-4 decisions in cases with sweeping impact, noting that many of the court's most controversial cases, including presidential wartime powers and political boundaries in Texas, would be decided in the final six weeks of the current term.

"If it is not necessary to decide more to a case, then in my view it is necessary not to decide more to a case," Chief Justice Roberts said. "Division should not be artificially suppressed, but the rule of law benefits from a broader agreement. The broader the agreement among the justices, the more likely it is a decision on the narrowest possible grounds."

His comments come as the court is under criticism by some members of Congress who say the justices have overreached in decisions that struck down the death penalty for juveniles and allowed cities to use eminent domain powers to take homes for private economic development....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/22/washington/22justice.html