President Bush's pick to be the next Chief Justice of the United States, John G. Roberts Jr., went through his confirmation hearings for four days last week. The hearings exposed very little about Roberts.

Many of the senators of the Judiciary Committee tried to press Roberts about his views on topics such as abortion, women's rights and Title IX, but he artfully dodged these questions. The only questions he did answer in full had to do with technical legal matters, such as the concept of stare decisis.

The closest Roberts came to answering clearly about abortion was when he told the Judiciary Committee Chairman, Arlen Specter, that the case of Roe v. Wade deserves respect. Other than that statement, we really have no idea what Roberts' views are.

In light of this, I think it would be irresponsible for any senator to cast a vote in favor of sending Roberts to the highest court in the land. I don't see how any Now, I know that Roberts will be confirmed, probably with 60 or more votes. I'm sure almost every Republican in the Senate will vote to confirm Roberts. That is what is expected of them. However, the Democrats in the Senate should vote no on Roberts because they simply don't have enough information to make a decision.

This viewpoint was published in The Marquette Tribune on September 22, 2005.