John Roberts has been sworn in as the 17th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court after a surpisingly smooth Senate confirmation. The final vote was 78-22, with all Senate Republicans voting to confirm Roberts and Senate Democrats split down the middle. The lone Senate Independant voted in favor of Roberts.
Democrats have stated that the true battle will come with President Bush's next nominee, to replace retiring justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Announcement of a nominee is quickly anticipated. Speculation seems largely focused on whether or not Bush will nominate a woman to succeed O'Connor, a wish publically stated by First Lady Laura Bush, as well as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and O'Connor herself.
Roberts replaces former Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who died September 3, 2005, after a long battle with thyroid cancer.
Article comments
1 - RJ
Good post.
The way I see it, the Senate Dems are going to go after this next USSC nominee whoever he or she is, with rhetorical guns a-blazin'. So, knowing this, Bush should at least try to get another right-winger like Scalia or Thomas on the Court.
If Bush nominates a relatively moderate judge, this individual will still be dragged through the muck and slime by the Dems, simply because Bush nominated him or her.
Replacing O'Connor with another O'Connor-type does nothing to alter the Court, and would greatly piss off Bush's base. He needs to nominate a truly hard-core conservative this time, and let the chips fall where they may...
2 - Joanie
I thought both parties did a great job establishing that Roberts has no interest in placing his personal beliefs on the cases he'll hear as a judge.
I honestly don't care if someone is labelled a liberal or a conservative prior to their appointment as long as they uphold the law according to the Constitution.
3 - LegendaryMonkey
I fear you're right, RJ, but I dread the idea of a super-conservative court...