Who is John Roberts, Supreme Court chief justice who voted against Trump on DACA?
On Thursday the Supreme Court issued its ruling on DACA and Chief Justice John Roberts went with the liberals to block Donald Trump’s attempt to end the program.
On Thursday United States President Donald Trump tried to end DACA but Chief Justice John Roberts, who saved Obamacare in 2012, joined the court’s four liberals to cast the crucial fifth vote against the president. The court’s 5-4 ruling is a resounding humanitarian victory but Roberts said he saved DACA because Trump’s administration mishandled every step of its attempted repeal in what he called a “dishonest corner-cutting.”
Former President Barack Obama enacted DACA in 2012 to allow individuals brought to the United States illegally as children to indefinitely defer their deportation. DACA beneficiaries also receive a work permit, as well as Social Security and Medicare benefits. Roberts made it very clear that he didn’t save this program because his heart “bleeds for young immigrants who face banishment to a foreign country.”
For the second time, as he did last year in favoring blocking a citizenship question on the 2020 census, Roberts joined with the court’s four liberals going against President Trump who then tweeted: “Do you get the impression that the Supreme Court doesn’t like me?”
Throughout his career, Roberts has demonstrated an interest in shielding the integrity of the judiciary and its reputation. The Chief Justice only wants officials, especially the President and his administration, to play by the rules.
John Roberts voted against LGBTQ rights
Five years ago, Chief Justice John Roberts voted against LGBTQ rights and this week he stood in support of them. On Friday 26 June 2015 the Supreme Court declared that marriage equality was a constitutionally-protected right for LGBT Americans.
In that 5-4 decision in the Oberkefell case, Chief Justice John Roberts voted not-in-favor. Support of same sex marriage has grown from 60% of the population in May 2015 to 67% in June 2020. On Monday the Supreme Court approved a new law that protects LGBTQ Americans from workplace discrimination and io this occasion Roberts voted in-favor.