Bush picks Roberts to be chief justice

WASHINGTON -- President Bush nominated Judge John G. Roberts, Jr., to succeed William H. Rehnquist as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court early Monday. \nBush called on the Senate to confirm Roberts -- a 50-year-old appellate court judge originally nominated by Bush in July to succeed retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor -- before the Court opens its fall term Oct. 3. \nThe Senate is expected to begin Roberts' confirmation hearings as chief justice either Thursday or next Monday.\nThe opening of his previously scheduled confirmation hearings for the position of associate justice, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was moved to Wednesday because of Rehnquist's funeral.\nThe swift move would also ensure a full nine-member court, because O'Connor has said she will remain on the job until her replacement is confirmed.\n"I am honored and humbled by the confidence the president has shown in me," Roberts said, standing alongside Bush in the Oval Office. "I am very much aware that if I am confirmed I would succeed a man I deeply respect and admire, a man who has been very kind to me for 25 years."\nIn his announcement, the president called Roberts "a man of integrity and fairness" who has "inspired the respect and loyalty of others."\n"John Roberts built a record of excellence and achievement and reputation for goodwill and decency toward others in his extraordinary career," Bush said.\nThe selection of Roberts -- a former law clerk for Rehnquist -- helps Bush avoid new political problems when he already is under fire for the government's sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina and his approval ratings in the polls are at the lowest point of his presidency.\nSenate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said he still expects Roberts to be confirmed before the new court session begins the first Monday of October.\n"The president has made an excellent choice," Frist said Monday. "Mr. Roberts is one of the most well-qualified candidates to come before the Senate. He will be an excellent chief."\nDemocrats said Roberts will now be held to a higher standard, although they had found little in his record to suggest they would thwart his nomination as associate justice.\n"Now that the president has said he will nominate Judge Roberts as chief justice, the stakes are higher and the Senate's advice and consent responsibility is even more important," Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Monday in a statement. "The Senate must be vigilant."\nThe president met with Roberts in the private residence of the White House for about 35 to 40 minutes Sunday evening, then officially offered him the job at 7:15 a.m. Monday when Roberts arrived at the Oval Office.\n"This had been something that had been in the president's thinking for some time -- in case the chief justice retired or that there otherwise was a vacancy," White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said. "The president, when he met with him, knew he was a natural born leader. The president knew Judge Roberts had the qualities to lead the court."\nMcClellan said Bush called O'Connor from Air Force One en route to Louisiana Monday to talk with her about his decision and told her he would move quickly to find her replacement as well. Talking to reporters, spokeswoman Dana Perino was unable to say whether O'Connor reiterated her earlier promise, however.\nGetting a new chief justice of Bush's choosing in place quickly also avoids the scenario of having Justice John Paul Stevens making the decisions about whom to assign cases to and making other decisions that could influence court deliberations. As the court's senior justice, Stevens would take over Rehnquist's administrative duties until a new chief is confirmed.\n"The passing of Chief Justice William Rehnquist leaves the center chair empty, just four weeks left before the Supreme Court reconvenes," Bush said. "It's in the interest of the court and the country to have a chief justice on the bench on the first full day of the fall term."\nRehnquist, 80 at his death, served on the Supreme Court for 33 years and was its leader for 19 years. He died Saturday at his home after a long-time struggle with thyroid cancer.\nRehnquist's body will lie in repose in the marble Great Hall of the Supreme Court building Tuesday and Wednesday mornings with the public invited to pay its respects.