WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Supreme Court nominee John Roberts advised Sandra Day O'Connor, the moderate conservative he seeks to replace, to avoid specific answers at her Senate confirmation hearings about legal issues expected to reach the court, according to newly released memos.
Those groups opposed to Roberts' nomination and even some Democrats say the tactic to not answer questions completely could be used by him to hide controversial views. The most recent nominees have pursued this approach to not indicate how they might vote in future court cases.