The Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing on the appointment of Judge John Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court seat vacated after the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist. The committee listened to questions and testimony during 4 days of hearings from September 12-15, 2005.

On the third day of questioning, held the morning of the fourth day of the hearings, Judge Roberts responded to questions from Senators Leahy, Kennedy, Feinstein, Feingold, Schumer, and Durbin. He addressed topics including the importance of judicial precedents, the right to privacy, gender discrimination, affirmative action, executive power, habeas reform, disabilities, and the philosophy of original intent.

Senators were allotted 15-20 minutes of questioning during the daylong hearing and were often shown alongside Judge Roberts in a split-screen format.