User:LizArchive/Isabella Roberts

Isabella Roberts (born April 12th, 1950) is an activist and politician currently serving as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States since 1996. Roberts previously served as the 1st Governor of the Oceanic Commonwealth of States from 1985 to 1993. Roberts is registered as an Independent, but currently chairs the unincorporated Autonomist Democratic Party, and formerly chaired the Oceanic Independence Party.

In 1988, Roberts was awarded and accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Timothy Andrews, and subsequently was awarded the Pacific Medal of National Service by Pacifica Governor Robert F. Kennedy.

Personal Life
Isabella Roberts was born by surrogacy in Pago Pago, Territory of American Samoa on April 12th, 1950 to Ella Perefoti and Emma Roberts. Roberts grew up in Pago Pago and in 1968 began her 4 year studies at the University of Hawai'i at Honolulu, obtaining an undergraduate degree in disaster management and energy studies. While in university, Roberts became known for her vocal opposition to the war in Vietnam; Roberts joined the American Samoa National Guard in 1973 following the withdrawal of United States forces from Vietnam. Following 4 years of service, in 1977 Isabella Roberts became employed in the designing and construction of dams and spillways amid increasing occurrences of flash flooding in American Samoa.

In 1978 Roberts started her involvement in politics, campaigning for Jimmy Carter in the election of 1980. In 1984 following the resignation of President Ronald Reagan and the establishment of Oceanic as a state, Roberts formed the Oceanic Independence Party to advocate for the rights of Oceanic citizens.

Governorship (1985-1993)
Following her election with 49.98% of the vote against opponents Greg Dover and Josh Curran, Roberts was sworn in as the 1st Governor of the Oceanic Commonwealth of States.

Roberts quickly became known as one of the most active Governors, maintaining a count of signed Executive Orders well above the numbers of her mainland counterparts for much of her first term. Roberts' E.O. count was overtaken by Pacifica Governor Robert F. Kennedy near the end of her first term.

Roberts' tenure was not without controversy, and the Acting Attorney General of the United States filed a lawsuit against Oceanic seeking to overturn a law he found discriminatory. Roberts maintained that the law was an example of affirmative action and was not unconstitutional.

After serving two terms, Roberts, term-limited, retired from politics until 1996.

Supreme Court (1996-present)
In November 1996, outgoing President Hubert H. Humphery appointed Roberts to a vacant Supreme Court seat. Roberts was confirmed by Unanimous Consensus shortly thereafter, becoming the first Pacific Islander to be confirmed to the Supreme Court, as well as the third individual from the Oceanic Commonwealth of States. Roberts' confirmation created an Oceanic-majority on the bench.

No cases have been argued before the bench during Roberts' tenure (as of January 1999). Roberts penned the court decision regarding two motions submitted as part of ACLI v. United States (1998).

LGBTQ+ Rights
Isabella Roberts has been openly lesbian since 1967, and supports LGBTQ+ rights for all Americans. The Oceanic Constitution, co-drafted by Roberts, forbids the commonwealth government from precluding LGBTQ+ people from equal rights, including marital rights. As Governor, Roberts has enacted various law considered LGBTQ+ friendly, including establishing inclusive marital law, forbidding discrimination in adoptions, and mandating the coverage of LGBTQ+ care by private health insurance.

Native Rights
Since becoming Governor, Roberts has signed several laws aimed at reducing inequalities for indigenous people in Oceanic, including a law initially excluding non-indigenous people from being employed by the OACA, a governmental program. The OACA was amended to prioritize indigenous employment following the filing of a lawsuit by the U.S. Attorney General's office seeking to overturn the program.

Roberts has also signed laws aimed at increasing indigenous participation in elections and increasing electricity access for remote native communities.

Economy
Upon her election as Governor, Roberts privately petitioned President Grenwich to grant Oceanic a waiver to the Jones Act, which she referred to as an "oppressive law". The Jones Act requires companies shipping between U.S. ports to possess and American crew and ships.

In her 1984 campaign for Governor, one of Roberts' key promises was to subsidize tourism and Oceanic exports. As of 1987, neither of these policies have been enacted. Roberts has moved to increase the diversification of the Oceanic economy, in particular moving Alaska to be less reliant on oil usage, demonstrated by funding to non-fossil fuel micro-grids.