September 29, 2005 5:50 PM

Senate confirms John Roberts as U.S. chief justice

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Conservative federal judge John Roberts, President George W. Bush's first nominee to the Supreme Court, won U.S. Senate confirmation on Thursday as the 17th chief justice of the United States.

Roberts was confirmed in a 78-22 vote.

Once sworn in, likely later in the day, the 50-year-old Roberts will be the youngest chief justice in two centuries and positioned to lead the court in the lifetime post for decades -- helping shape the American way of life on matters from civil rights and women's rights to workers' rights.

A federal appeals court judge the past two years, Roberts is widely regarded as one of the nation's top lawyers and served in the Reagan administration and first Bush administration.

He replaces William Rehnquist, who died on September 3 after being the high court's conservative anchor for 33 years.

Bush is expected soon to offer a second Supreme Court nominee, one likely to face a much tougher confirmation fight since the court's ideological balance will be at stake.

The next nominee would replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a moderate conservative who has been the swing vote on the often bitterly divided, nine-member court.

At his Senate confirmation hearing, Roberts faced dubious Democrats and vowed to rule without a political agenda and in strict adherence to the U.S. Constitution.


Finally.

It would have been funny if Bush made a mistake on his SC nomination and nominated Julia Roberts as as SCJ instead. Then he pretended to go with it and kept referring to her as Erin Brokovich throughout the entire process.

I'm not sure that she'll get pass the judiciary commitee. It seems like Brownback and the guy from Oklahoma are going to vote against him. If the Dems join them, then who knows...

Inevitably, I think that she will be confirmed, but there is going to be a fight. I wonder what the hearings are going to be like.

YEA. She will be. Who is going to stop it? Reoublicans are wusses and the democratic leadership loves her. Thanks.

I had Homecoming Week preparations for the past month. God damn presidential duties.

Red, do you think that Miers will be confirmed? And by the way, welcome back.

I dont agree with any of the choices Bush has made for nominees. And he is going to get a hell of alot of fallout for Harriet Miers.
I dont like the fact that Roberts was made Chief Justice when he has no experience on the high court. Scalia or Thomas should hold that position.
I dont like the fact that he listened to Harry Reid for the Miers nomination, I dont like the fact that just two years ago, Miers was a secretary, and has no judicial experience.
I dont like the fact that Bush is a coward who doesnt want a fight.
But then again, this can be said of Bush not just iwht his juducial nominees.

quote:

A conservative that does pro bono work for pro queer groups and promises not to overturn Roe v Wade? Thats not my definition of a conservative.

You must have a narrow-minded definition of conservatives...oh wait, you are narrow-minded! I forgot. It's been so long since I last ridiculed you.

Basing a decision on constitutionality is not activistic. Do you value precedence?

quote:

Originally posted by FreeMarketLover:
He doesn't want to be an activist, maybe you like activist judges. I don't.

Part of being a true judge is correcting the errors of activist judges. If their precendents live on, so do they.

quote:

promises not to overturn Roe v Wade? Thats not my definition of a conservative.

He doesn't want to be an activist, maybe you like activist judges. I don't.

quote:

Originally posted by clpo13:
I love it. Division within the ranks.

You're about 10 years late...

quote:

You do know Roberts is a conservative, don't you reactionary?

A conservative that does pro bono work for pro queer groups and promises not to overturn Roe v Wade? Thats not my definition of a conservative.

I love it. Division within the ranks. You do know Roberts is a conservative, don't you reactionary?

Great, yet another pro abortion, gay lover on the highest court in the land.

Like I've been saying all along, the replacement for Rehnquist will not be as important as the replacement for O'Connor.

Personally, I'm convinced Roberts is no Rehnquist; Rehnquist's court became infamous for conservative judicial acitivism. While I have no doubt Roberts will make the court somewhat conservative, it's not like Roberts is going to find any flimsy excuse to block legislation (or appoint a President).

I also appreciate how Roberts seems much more mature than the Roberts that came through in his writings twenty years ago. I would like working with Roberts now, actually.

It's good that Roberts has been confirmed, now we can move on to the much more sensitive issue. Who will President Bush nominate to replace Justice O'Connor?

I have said it before, and I'll say it again: Roberts should have been confirmed. He said nothing wrong in the hearings. Roberts is a conservative, but Bush has every right to nominate a conservative. Roberts is not a Scalia or a Thomas. He is more of a Rehnquist and he may prove to be less conservative.

Yay! The government actually did something it was supposed to!

And take a second look Celtic, the man, to the best of my judgement, pretty much interperts things as close as anyone could be expected to. How often did you actually watch the live coverage of the hearings, and what do you know about his past?

Give me a second while I cry.