Roberts Helped Gay Group

WASHINGTON -- Several conservative groups have issued concerns about the role John Roberts played in the 1996 US Supreme Court ruling that guaranteed gays protection against discrimination based on their sexual orientation.

Groups that until a few days ago were criticizing Democrats and demanding a speedy confirmation of judge John G. Roberts Jr. to the US Supreme Court are now looking into the role Roberts played in the landmark ruling.

According to reports, John Roberts played a valuable role helping attorneys overturn a law that would have allowed discrimination against gays — pro bono work the Supreme Court nominee didn't mention in a questionnaire he filled out for the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The case involved Amendment 2, a constitutional amendment approved by Colorado voters in 1992 that would have barred laws, ordinances or regulations protecting gays from discrimination by landlords, employers or public agencies such as school districts.

Gay rights groups sued, and the law was declared unconstitutional in a 6-3 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1996.

Roberts' role in the case, disclosed this week by the Los Angeles Times, included helping develop a strategy and firing tough questions at Jean Dubofsky, a former Colorado Supreme Court justice who argued the case, during a mock court session, Smith said.