'A Cut Above' The Chief Justice Roberts Look

North by Northwest

Judge John G. Roberts, in my opinion the next U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice, revealed in his Senate Judiciary Commitee Hearings this week......well, nothing really....other than....his favorite movie being 'North by Northwest', directed by the famous British director Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint.

Now, what can we deduce from that? Well I would say two things:

Number one, he is a man of 'Integrity'. Why? Because, according to BP's Group C.E.O. Lord John Browne's summary of the word (see Ken Pierce's 'Integrity') :

"There must never be a gap between what we say, and what we do"

Well, there clearly isn't. Roberts' dress code is entirely based on Cary Grant in his favorite movie. Therefore, the man clearly has - 'Integrity'

Number two, he is a born Leader.....of fashion. According to Cathy Horyn of the New York Times, we have a welcomed return of the black tailored suit, the very style that Roberts favors.

The subject of American aesthetics (see interesting article by Edward Driscoll), and inherently men's sense of fashion, still largely rests on Integrity. The quality of being honest, and having strong moral principles, moral uprightness. Roberts is known to be a man of integrity: whole, undivided, unimpaired and unified.

The 'Chief Justice Roberts' Look is corporate, commanding, prudent, full of integrity, with a 'touch of heart' discretely worn on your well cut sleeve. My guess is that we will see a lot of dark tailored suits amongst the young Americans who will be driving this trend.

This albeit two point assumed profile of Roberts would not be complete without a reference to his famous modesty. According to Google, and Orin Kerr the word 'modesty' has already appeared alongside Roberts more than 18 000 times.

Eugene Volokh over @ The Volokh Conspiracy :
"Asked by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, whether he would allow cameras in the Supreme Court courtroom or bar them, as did the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Roberts referred to former Tennessee senator-turned-actor Fred Thompson, who has been shepherding him through the nomination process.

"My new best friend, Senator Thompson, assures me that television cameras are nothing to be afraid of," Roberts said, eliciting laughter."

He better get used to those cameras, with his Cary Grant star quality and looks.... I have said it before....I like him....He really is best suited to be The Chief Justice.

The relevant exchange with Senator Schumer (D-NY):

SCHUMER: Let me just say, sir, in all due respect [...] this process is getting a little more absurd the further we move. You agree we should be finding out your philosophy and method of legal reasoning, modesty, stability, but when we try to find out what modesty and stability mean, what your philosophy means, we don't get any answers. It's as if I asked you: What kind of movies do you like? Tell me two or three good movies. And you say, I like movies with good acting. I like movies with good directing. I like movies with good cinematography. And I ask you, No, give me an example of a good movie. You don't name one. I say, Give me an example of a bad movie. .

SCHUMER:  You won't name one. Then I ask you if you like 'Casablanca', and you respond by saying, Lots of people like 'Casablanca.' (LAUGHTER) You tell me it's widely settled that 'Casablanca' is one of the great movies.

SPECTER:  Senator Schumer, now that your time is over, are you asking him a question?

SCHUMER: Yes. (LAUGHTER) I am saying, sir -- I am making a plea here. I hope we're going to continue this for a while, that within the confines of what you think is appropriate and proper, you try to be a little more forthcoming with us in terms of trying to figure out what kind of justice you will become.

[...]

ROBERTS: : I'll be very succinct.

[...]

ROBERTS: : First, Dr. Zhivago and North by Northwest. (LAUGHTER)

Previous Judge Roberts posts:

'Who is 'Stare Decisis', and what does Roberts Think of Her'.

Judge Roberts governed by Faith or Oath?

The Ghost of Pro Bono Past

Comments

[spiritofecstasy]

AvM,

Are You getting ALL OF my emails today? I have now sent a THIRD email about the mixup. As I did; Your latest email seems to be unaware of my previous two.

Maybe the mail is getting spam filtered. Maybe You have deleted some by mistake. It does not seem that You are getting the messages.

Anyway I am sending my Third Email to You with several different email accounts of mine. Just in case my messages are not reaching You. I have sent the THIRD email once. I will send it TWO more times with diff. accounts.

Hope we can clear up the mixup and look back on it as funny but it is very frustrating now.

[North by Northwest]

Yeap. I guess you could construe the latest me-too craze amongst celebrities launching fashion labels as an early warning signal, or could you?! But I certainly won't live to see the day when in the morning powdered wigs are hastily given a final nudge on the way up to the 78th floor....

[Victor]

Interesting to read Ed Driscoll's article in the 'New Partisan'.

I am a great fan of tailored clothes and handmade shoes. Maybe even more handmade shoes. And I am often astonished by the kind of compliments I am receiving.

But, brace yourself: would you believe, that by far the most nods, thumb-ups and 'hey, I love your shoes' have been from your 'gangster-outfitted' African-American. I believe in fact, that there will be a renaissance of dress-codes, the likes we haven't seen since the French Revolution killed most of its patrons. And it will be driven from the street, but utterly brand-conscious and luxurious.

We are only seeing the very beginning, the very early dawn of an era in which sophisticated dress-codes take centre stage as THE means to express ones sense of individuality and the then all important need to document one's 'sense of style'. I can't wait and, if they play their cards right, the guys who recently bought the Neiman Marcus Group could be laughing all the way to the bank, literally!

[lilly]

Challenging thought. American Architecture, hum. American men's fashion, hum. Is there such a thing? I meant the latter of course.

[Alexandra]

Ed Driscoll's article is very interesting. Amongst other things he draws thought provoking parallels:

"Such matters are worth taking seriously: how a nation looks, from how its people dress to the quality of its architecture, says much about the moral health of its citizens. And right now, America is at a crossroads: as the appearance of its things has improved dramatically over the last 30 years, the appearance of its citizens has gone dramatically downhill."

It's sad but true, I for one am hoping that the American men will start looking like Cary Grant and behaving like Roberts, or is it looking like Driscoll, and behaving like Cary Grant, or is it looking like Roberts and behaving like Driscoll. Well all the three are good looking, intelligent and dress well (check Ed's pictures in his album), so quite frankly any of the combinations will do! One of the three is however is very dead, so looking like him will not be advisable.

Check out another one of Ed's articles: 'Hope for the secret vice'. The man has what I call 'integrity'. (LOL)

Speaking of which, "Mrs. Roberts, the candy floss suit has to go...it could blow your husband's 'integrity' look wide open." Something to look out for team, we know she looks like Eva Marie Saint, but really. Who is in charge of publicity? Ah, that's right Roberts' new best friend Senator Thomson, sir.....a moment....