The Chief, the Senate, and the Trial

We the People

National Constitution Center

News, News Commentary, History

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 January 2020

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today, Chief Justice John Roberts was sworn in at the United States Senate to preside over the third presidential impeachment trial in American history. On this week’s episode, Ken Starr, the former independent counsel who investigated President Clinton before his impeachment, and Joan Biskupic, CNN Supreme Court analyst and biographer of Chief Justice Roberts, join host Jeffrey Rosen to preview the trial. They discuss how disagreements over trial procedure, including whether or not to call witnesses, might be resolved. They also offer insight into how the Chief will likely handle his role, and how past Chief Justicse have presided. [This episode was recorded on Monday, January 13th, before the announcement that Ken Starr would be joining President Trump's legal team.] Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org. [Jeff offers a special chance to win his book Conversations with RBG if you write in before 11:59 a.m. on 1/20/19 completing the stanza of one of his favorite operas. Book contest open to US + Canada legal residents 18 +. No purchase necessary; void where prohibited! Limit one per listener.]

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, and welcome to We
0:08.0	the People, a weekly show of constitutional debate.
0:11.4	The National Constitution Center is a nonpartisan nonprofit chartered by Congress to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.
0:21.0	The Senate of the United States is on the verge of holding the impeachment
0:26.1	trial of President Trump and presiding over that trial will be Chief Justice
0:30.8	John Roberts to talk about the Chief Justice John Roberts.
0:33.4	To talk about the Chief Justice's role in the impeachment trial and the history of Chief Justices
0:39.2	and Presidential Impeachments, were joined by two of Americans Americans leading experts on impeachment and on the Constitution.
0:46.0	Kenneth Starr is of counsel at the Lanier law firm.
0:50.0	Judge Starr has argued 36 cases before the US Supreme Court.
0:54.0	He served as Solicitor General of the United States
0:57.4	as a circuit judge for the DC Circuit
0:59.7	and as independent counsel during the Clinton presidency from 1994 to 1999.
1:07.0	Ken, thank you so much for joining.
1:09.0	My pleasure, Jeff. Thank you.
1:11.0	And Joan Biscupik is a CNN legal analyst who has
1:14.2	covered the Supreme Court for 25 years. She's previously been an editor in
1:18.5	charge for legal affairs at Reuters and a Supreme Court correspondent for the Washington Post and USA Today.
1:25.4	Her most recent book, The Chief is a biography of Chief Justice John Roberts.
1:29.8	Joan, it's wonderful to have you with us.
1:31.8	Thank you, Jeff.
1:33.0	Let's jump right in.
	...

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