Although students and faculty expressed varied opinions on John Roberts Jr., President George W. Bush’s Supreme Court nominee, most agree he is likely to be confirmed.

Hearings will begin Sept. 6 to determine if Bush’s nominee to the Supreme Court will become the next justice. If appointed, Roberts will be replacing Sandra Day O’Conner, who stepped down in July.

Roberts is serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Since graduating from Harvard Law School in 1979, he has clerked for Chief Justice William Rehnquist, served as a legal aide for Ronald Reagan’s administration and been deputy solicitor general in the first Bush administration.

The American Bar Association recently unanimously rated Roberts as “well qualified,” the highest rating a nominee can receive.

“I think the president made a good choice,” said Nicole Woodroffe, president of the ISU College Republicans and senior in political science. “I think Roberts will do a good job of upholding the Constitution.”

Jeremy Oehlert, senior in psychology, Daily columnist and president of the ISU Libertarians said he was “cautiously optimistic” Roberts will support small government.

Kimberly Conger, assistant professor of political science, said she has been expecting Roberts to be confirmed since the beginning. She said because the nominee already has at least 70 votes tied up and just received a high rating from the American Bar Association, he should be in.

Drew Larson, president of the ISU Democrats and senior in accounting, said he was “reserving judgment” because he doesn’t know as much as he’d like to.

“There could be worse, but I definitely think there could be better,” Larson said.

Roberts’ record has been under fire following comments he made about the gender gap in the 1980s and his work as a lawyer on cases that supported abortion rights. Many others have expressed concern that he is being secretive about his past.

“I think he definitely could have picked a worse candidate,” said Justen Jones, events director for the ISU Democrats and sophomore in political science. “What they’re showing us is good, but they’re not showing us the full story.”

Woodroffe said she believes Roberts will be an objective judge if appointed.

“I’m sure he understands the importance of being a Supreme Court Justice and he will set his own personal opinions aside and uphold the Constitution as our forefathers and founding fathers wanted,” Woodroffe said.