At Impeachment Trial, Chief Justice Roberts May Have More Prestige Than Power
While some envision a major role for the Supreme Court's chief justice, modern precedent would suggest otherwise.
When the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump opens, the man in the center chair will be Chief Justice John Roberts. His role is spelled out in the Constitution.
It says that the chief justice "shall preside" over the Senate trial of a president. Those who envision a powerful role for Chief Justice Roberts point to Senate rules that would allow him to make decisions on "all questions of evidence." In theory, at least, that might enable Roberts to rule on motions from the House managers seeking to compel testimony from White House aides, like former national security adviser John Bolton, and others who, until now, have been blocked by Trump from testifying.
Yet under Senate rules, it is the senators themselves who have
