PROVIDENCE — Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court John G. Roberts Jr. told government and civic leaders attending the opening ceremony of the United States Courthouse Centennial Celebration Tuesday that the 100 year-old building occupies a central place in Rhode Island history.
The five story Beaux-Arts style building was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century at a cost of one million dollars, and originally housed a customs house, courts and post office.
“It is truly an historic anniversary ....” said the chief justice, adding that while it is not unusual to see contractors, architects and lawyers together in the same courtroom, it is not usually for such a happy occasion.
Roberts focused his remarks on legal scholar and former President Abraham Lincoln, whose 199th birthday coincided with the courthouse centennial celebration. He noted that Lincoln, despite having little formal education, practiced law for 23 years and used his “extraordinary memory” and his great oratorical talents to become “one of the best all-’round jury lawyers in Illinois.” Roberts noted that Lincoln most likely began his legal career in a courthouse constructed with logs, and later served in brick buildings that played an important role in the development of frontier cities.
“This grand courthouse provided the same type of foundation for Rhode Island lawyers,”? said Roberts. A practicing Catholic, he noted that new lawyers being admitted to the bar that afternoon, as well as future generations of Rhode Island barristers, have an opportunity to follow Lincoln’s example of serving mankind with honesty and character.
“I think it was a fine speech,” said Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano, D D-17. “It was nice of him to mark the occasion with his presence.”
Roberts is the tenth Catholic to be seated on the Supreme Court since it was first established in 1790.
Roberts, his wife, Jane Sullivan Roberts, and their two children are members of Little Flower Parish, Bethesda, Md. A native of Buffalo, N.Y., he attended Catholic schools there and in Indiana until his family moved to the northwestern part of the state when he was in junior high school.
Father Bernard A. Healey, director of the Office of Governmental Liaison, represented the Diocese of Providence at the ceremony.
