GOP lawyers in Iowa join push for Roberts

Republican lawyers in Iowa are stepping forward to lobby for quick approval of President Bush’s nominee to the U-S Supreme Court. Attorney Steve Roberts of Des Moines, former chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa and a current member of the Republican National Committee, says he’s not related to nominee John G. Roberts, Junior. “I’ve been trying to hope there was some trace (relationship), but no way,” Roberts says. “It’s hard to conceive of a better nomination.” Roberts was among a small group of Republican lawyers from Iowa who were recruited to speak at a statehouse news conference Wednesday afternoon. It was all about sending a mesage to Iowa’s U-S Senators — Republican Charles Grassley and Democrat Tom Harkin. Roberts says Grassley and Harkin are “very powerful” and their opinions are respected by people in both political parties. “Therefore, we think it’s important that they hear from some…of the people at home,” Roberts says. Paula Dierenfeld, a lawyer from the Des Moines suburb of Johnston, worked on President Bush’s re-election campaign. “I think what’s most important is that the president nominate someone who is the most qualified person to do the job and I think…he has found that person in Judge Roberts,” Dierenfeld says.