By Benjamin Shaw
Washington, DC – Buffalo native Judge John Roberts was on Capitol Hill for the second day in a row Thursday, making courtesy calls to half a dozen Senators.
"I appreciate the senators accommodating me and visiting with me very much," Roberts told reporters. "I enjoy it."
Roberts, looking exhausted, met with Senator Schumer on a Capitol balcony overlooking the mall. They chatted about playing high school sports and shared Harvard stories before getting down to business.
Schumer, an influential member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, voted against Roberts when he was confirmed to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
After the meeting, the senator says he hasn't decided if he'll oppose Roberts' nomination to the Supreme Court.
"He told me that he hoped that he could persuade me to win his vote over. And I told him I hoped he could, too," Schumer said.
Schumer outlined almost 70 questions he'd like to ask Roberts to reveal the judges judicial philosophy. But he says yesterday was just a chance to meet.
"I don't think it would be fair to say what's your answer on these questions right now," Schumer said. "It's a long process."
A pack of photographers followed Roberts as he left Schumer and headed to a meeting with Democratic Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy.