WASHINGTON, July 31, 2007
Roberts Assures President He's Fine
Chief Justice Calls Bush After Suffering Seizure; White House Says Roberts Is "In Great Spirits"
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Justice Roberts Hospitalized
Chief Justice John Roberts suffered a seizure at his vacation home in Maine. Roberts fell on a dock and was rushed to the hospital. Jim Axelrod has more details.
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A spokeswoman says doctors are calling the incident that sent Chief Justice John Roberts to the hospital "a benign idiopathic seizure." A similar problem in 1993 is described as an "isolated, idiosyncratic seizure." (AP)
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Mr. Bush called Roberts Tuesday morning.
"The chief justice assured him that he was doing fine," White House press secretary Tony Snow said. "The president was reassured."
Roberts "sounded like he was in great spirits," Snow said, relaying details of the phone call.
Doctors who examined Roberts called the episode a "benign idiopathic seizure," meaning they found no tumor, stroke or any other explanation.
Roberts, 52, had a similar, unexplained attack in 1993.
The seizure Monday caused the chief justice to fall on a dock, where he sustained minor scrapes, Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said.
Once at the hospital, he underwent a "thorough neurological evaluation, which revealed no cause for concern," Arberg said.
She said he was kept overnight at the Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport for observation.
"Idiopathic means they really don’t know what caused it," Dr. Emily Senay told CBS' The Early Show, and added that the seizures could have a genetic component to them.
By definition, someone who has had more than one seizure without any other cause is determined to have epilepsy, said Dr. Marc Schlosberg, a Washington Hospital Center neurologist who is not involved in the Roberts case.
Whether Roberts will need anti-seizure medications to prevent another is something he and his doctor will have to decide. But after two seizures, the likelihood of another at some point is greater than 60 percent.
Epilepsy is merely a term for a seizure disorder, but it is a loaded term because it makes people think of lots of seizures, cautioned Dr. Edward Mkrdichian, a neurosurgeon at the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch.
Still, Mkrdichian said anyone who has had two otherwise unexplained seizures is at high risk for a third, and that he puts such patients on anti-seizure medications.
"Having two seizures so many years apart without any known culprit is going to be very difficult to figure out," agreed Dr. Max Lee of the Milwaukee Neurological Institute.
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. on a dock near Roberts' summer home in Port Clyde on Maine's Hupper Island. He had just gotten off a boat and was returning home after running errands, Arberg said. Port Clyde, which is part of the town of St. George, is about 90 miles by car northeast of Portland, midway up the coast of Maine.
Roberts was taken by private boat to the mainland and then transferred to an ambulance, St. George Fire Chief Tim Polky said.
"He was conscious and alert when they put him in the rescue (vehicle)," Polky said.
Named to the court by President Bush in 2005, Roberts is the youngest justice on a court in which the senior member, John Paul Stevens, is 87. Mr. Bush was informed of the hospitalization by his chief of staff, Josh Bolten, the White House said.
Roberts is the father of two young children.
CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod reported that the 1993 episode, which occurred while Roberts was playing golf, did not come up during his confirmation hearings because it was thought to be an isolated event.
Larry Robbins, a Washington attorney who worked with Roberts at the Justice Department in 1993, said he drove Roberts to work for several months after Roberts' seizure that year. Robbins said Roberts never mentioned what the problem was and he never heard of it happening again.
In 2001, Roberts described his health as "excellent," according to Senate Judiciary Committee records.
Roberts became chief justice after the death of William Rehnquist in September 2005, although Mr. Bush had first chosen him to take Sandra Day O'Connor's seat when she announced her retirement earlier that year.
Roberts has led the Supreme Court to a more conservative stance. Helped by Justice Samuel Alito, who won confirmation in early 2006, conservatives have won twice as often as they lost on the Roberts-led court. The 2006-07 term brought limits on abortion rights, restrictions on school integration programs and greater freedom for political advertising.
Roberts earlier served as an appellate judge in Washington and spent more than a decade before that as a lawyer at the Hogan and Hartson law firm, where he specialized in arguing cases before the Supreme Court.
Roberts also served in the Reagan and Bush administrations in the 1980s and 1990s. He was a clerk for Rehnquist after graduating from Harvard Law School.
Roberts spent a couple of weeks in Europe in July, teaching a course in Vienna and attending a conference in Paris. He was at the court in Washington late last week.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 251 CommentsThis pro-Corporate tool should be purged from our Supreme Court. Since he was nominated by our unelected puppet-Fuhrer, his installment can hardly be seen as having any legitimacy.
He had an "unexplained seizure" in 1993 and wasn't allowed to drive for a while after that. Maybe this fall was caused by another "unexplained seizure".
Perhaps he should retire before his medical condition becomes "known".
With the rulings since he's been Chief Justice, he's been brain dead for the whole year!
He had an "unexplained seizure" in 1993 and wasn't allowed to drive for a while after that. Maybe this fall was caused by another "unexplained seizure".
Perhaps he should retire before his medical condition becomes "known".
Posted by MyIDonCBS at 05:18 PM : Jul 30, 2007
Here's hoping it's a tumor.
Re: "His ego must have tripped over his dogma."
Very good!
Did you ever read Bork or just take your opinion from the media? His ideas make sense, just because Brown was poorly decided from a legal point of view does not mean that it was poorly decided from a moral point of view. He kinda admits and explicitly states that. I guess if one points out a legal flaw in a legal proceedings that does not conform to the left, one must be a nazi....
If you mean that anyone who happens to actually stick to precedent and refuses to make up 'penumbras' for things never contemplated by the drafters is a nazi, you have a funny argument there. Keep in mind that property is NOT an essential right whereas some general notion of privacy is. Also you have a constitutional guaranteed right to use contraception. Funny how these non-nazis come up really odd rights and penumbras but fail to see what should be obvious rights such as property.
Idiot.
please note some of the ominous comments on this site
"I hope he had a tumor"
"He is now brain-damaged. We need him recalled!"
Can liberals be much more evil than this? Can these "people" have a half-ounce of consience? Do you realize they walk among us, living their tortured,meaningless little lives where no one cares about them at all, but they can play Big Man at a computer and wish ill on another human being?
If you are a classic liberal, you would do well to do some policing of these individuals. I refuse to even get close to the Daily Kos with this..I suspect computer monitors across the country are shorting out from all the drool being spewed right now.
Just sad,sad,sad.
Posted by tasmhs at 06:56 PM : Jul 30, 2007
+ report abuse
Why is it you Fascist never ask why people hate you so much. It's ALWAYS their fault isn't it. I remember during the 60's how you bashed people for hating you all the while you were lyching and bombing because of race. Better get used to it because it's pretty much WORLD WIDE... you truly are on your own. Want to know how much? If it came between you and the Taliban, it would be a real tough call and Sparky I hate the Taliban very badly. Sieg Heil Bush
[Posted by tasmhs at 06:56 PM : Jul 30, 2007]
well thank god that the 'scum' part only afflicts liberals and never touches anyone else ... that would be bad.
Posted by tasmhs at 06:56 PM : Jul 30, 2007
+ report abuse
Why is it you Fascist never ask why people hate you so much. It's ALWAYS their fault isn't it. I remember during the 60's how you bashed people for hating you all the while you were lyching and bombing because of race. Better get used to it because it's pretty much WORLD WIDE... you truly are on your own. Want to know how much? If it came between you and the Taliban, it would be a real tough call and Sparky I hate the Taliban very badly. Sieg Heil Bush
MCvet
Your ignorance is on display for everywhere to see. Your vile hatred and bile is like a cancer on any civilized debate on any subject. You are scum and I stand by my comments 10,000 percent.
You need psychiatric help.....big time.
Posted by tasmhs at 06:56 PM : Jul 30, 2007
Excuse me tashmhs, but can you do me a favor? Can you explain why it was OK for Bill O'LieLeee to say it was OK for Terrorists to toss a nuclear bomb on all of san francisco??? you are saying it's OK for a republiCON like O'Lielee to say that mass slaughter of millions of men, women, and children is OK?
I gotta say tho', praying for the death of another is insanity and those who preach it are lower than dirt; however don't say it's a "Liberal" thing... there are those on both sides of the aisle and in between that wish for such things... republiCONs just do it on a larger scale... yeah, bomb all of San Francisco... invade Iraq on faked evidence which he knew beforehand... you know, those little details.
I only mean to say that anyone who wishes death on someone purely because of political differences needs to get a life and think about what they are hoping for.
Am I praying for the death of John Paul Stevens or Ruth Bader Ginsburg? NO.
That's my gripe with some of the comments on here regarding Chief Justice Roberts
He had an "unexplained seizure" in 1993 and wasn't allowed to drive for a while after that. Maybe this fall was caused by another "unexplained seizure".
Perhaps he should retire before his medical condition becomes "known".
Posted by MyIDonCBS at 05:18 PM : Jul 30, 2007
Here's hoping it's a tumor.
Posted by RandalDS at 06:07 PM : Jul 30, 2007
Sorry man, but that was out of line... Karma will come get you on that... you do all progressives a disservice when you speak like that. This makes you no better than the republiCONs who spew hate and pain-filled-messages across the boards... Sorry RandalDS, i was with ya up until now. I'm sure i can over look this transgression but really, why would you say that?
Re: "Justice Roberts Hospitalized After Seizure"
A few water-boarding sessions, shock treatment, and a standard exorcism should have him back on his feet in no time.
Nothing to worry about.
Posted by tasmhs at 06:56 PM : Jul 30, 2007
I don't believe in god, and I don't believe in heaven or hell. Hell is a fictional place created by some Christian leaders to scare their congregations into strictly following the "word of god".
Posted by tasmhs at 06:56 PM : Jul 30, 2007
Well know it all! This liberal is not wanting any one to have trouble, health or otherwise... If you want to complain about wording, OK complain about it, but don't do the same thing you are complaining about. Now!! got anything to say?
Nothing to worry about.
Posted by FeelFree1 at 07:17 PM : Jul 30, 2007
LOL!! (That's some funny sh*itt right there!)
just read some of the comments of your left wing brethren. one is hoping alito is right behind him, etc etc.
the comments say it all. Hate filled scum, pure and simple. Case Closed. Their tongues dig their own grave.
The guy may be swell to hang out with, but keep in mind he was appointment by Bush who was appointed by the court that was appointed by his "daddy". I think the vast majority of us can agree that Bush's judgement should be questioned on all his decisions based on his track record. So, I can't really blame anyone for hoping to see any of Bush's appointees to get out the he!! out one way or another.
I read all of them but their vitriol did not include me, so even though I may not agree with their feelings I had nothing to add without seeming 'Hokier than Thou'. oooppss that was supposed to be 'Holier'
Alito should be in front of him !!!
snip
You liberals are such scum. Praying for the death of Roberts, and you have the audacity to call Republicans hate-mongers? Hoping for a tumor or a serious brain injury is about as low as it gets. There is a special place in hell for people like you.
Posted by tasmhs at 06:56 PM : Jul 30, 2007
Excuse me tashmhs, but can you do me a favor? Can you explain why it was OK for Bill O'LieLeee to say it was OK for Terrorists to toss a nuclear bomb on all of san francisco??? you are saying it's OK for a republiCON like O'Lielee to say that mass slaughter of millions of men, women, and children is OK?
I gotta say tho', praying for the death of another is insanity and those who preach it are lower than dirt; however don't say it's a "Liberal" thing... there are those on both sides of the aisle and in between that wish for such things... republiCONs just do it on a larger scale... yeah, bomb all of San Francisco... invade Iraq on faked evidence which he knew beforehand... you know, those little details.
Posted by CANYOUTELLME at 07:08 PM : Jul 30, 2007
I also hope that he does not return to the Supreme Court.
I feel that Roberts was just another shill, another patsy for the evil Bush cabal.
I like your style!
God, the hate from the NeoCons just blows my mind. All those right wingers, they've created a hatred party, used to be Conservative Republicans, not the Fascist Hatred Party. Their party has got them all snowed, not a play on words.
I am not a fan of Bill O'Reilly and do no watch his show.
I love San Francisco and am a strong supporter of gay rights.
Don't jump to such sweeping generalization of all my views.
All I did was point out the hate-filled comments of some of the posts on this little blog.
And, for the record, I am against the Iraq war also.
I just happen to subscribe to the old fashioned notion that wishing someone a tumor or death is not such a good thing.
This little blog, or whatever it is, proves one point. Civilized discourse is in the past tense in this country. It has been replaced by vicousness and hate, from the left and the right. But, on this particular blog and subject, the left is doing the hating.
And whatever you do don't bring up religion or you might find some crazy atheists will go poster board.
Sounds like he's going to be just fine, although one wonders what God is up to, as clearly this can't be part of the plan as Pat Robertson had laid it out.
That being said - my fellow libs: do NOT engage in any wishes of death for Mr. Roberts. If we engage in that kind of loathsome behavior we are no better then the rightwingers.
When Paul Wellstone was killed I can't count all the awful comments I read online that mocked his death. Let's show that we are better than that. And that we are better than them.
Posted by red164 at 08:36 PM : Jul 30, 2007
Why would anyone do that? The subject is John Roberts medical condition. You just can't resist stirring up some more trouble - is that it?
I am not a fan of Bill O'Reilly and do no watch his show.
I love San Francisco and am a strong supporter of gay rights.
Don't jump to such sweeping generalization of all my views.
All I did was point out the hate-filled comments of some of the posts on this little blog.
And, for the record, I am against the Iraq war also.
I just happen to subscribe to the old fashioned notion that wishing someone a tumor or death is not such a good thing.
This little blog, or whatever it is, proves one point. Civilized discourse is in the past tense in this country. It has been replaced by vicousness and hate, from the left and the right. But, on this particular blog and subject, the left is doing the hating.
Posted by tasmhs at 08:27 PM : Jul 30, 2007
You've made my point for me. You made a sweeping generalization and so i made one back at you. You see how it's stupid? So please chill on the sweeping generalizations going forward. Those "liberals" who choose to mock the health of this Justice are just pathetic... they do not speak for all liberals. I think i've made my point.
instead of the moderate that he portrayed himself in confirmation hearings.
gawd works in strange ways!
Oh, the passive troll that be you; now your ready to stick your keyboard into the fray again?
Posted by red164 at 09:02 PM : Jul 30, 2007
No. You're trying to start it again - stick to the subject. The republican biased supreme court justice, who was appointed by al Qaeda's biggest recruiter - George Bush.
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