[JURIST] The American Civil Liberties Union Tuesday expressed "deep concern" over US Supreme Court nominee John Roberts [JURIST news archive] in a letter [PDF] to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, set to begin his confirmation hearing next week. The rights group urged Senators to "fully consider his legal and judicial philosophy, his approach to decision-making, and his possible impact on the role of the court in protecting civil liberties", according to an accompanying statement. Along with the letter, the ACLU filed copies of a detailed 45-page report [PDF] on Roberts' positions on rights and liberties issues, pointing out that the nominee "has relied on notions of “judicial restraint” and “states’ rights” throughout his career to advocate positions that the ACLU has opposed."