In 1983, Fred Fielding, the White House counsel, asked Roberts to evaluate a proposal then in circulation to create a kind of super appeals court to assist the Supreme Court with its ostensibly pressing workload.
Several of the super PAC knockoffs were inspired by comedian Stephen Colbert, who created a buzz last year when he founded the Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow super PAC to mock the Supreme Court's decision and what Mr. Colbert contends is its invitation for big money to play an even bigger role in politics.