Roberts heads to likely confirmation

WASHINGTON -- John Roberts, hailed by supporters as "the brightest of the bright," cruised Monday toward easy confirmation as chief justice while President Bush hinted that his next pick to the Supreme Court could be a minority or a woman.\n"Diversity is one of the strengths of the country," the president said.\nRoberts, the president's first pick for the Supreme Court, is assured of getting an overwhelming confirmation vote by the Senate later this week, making him the nation's 17th chief justice.\nTwo-thirds of the 100 senators -- both Republicans and Democrats -- already had promised to support Roberts as the successor to the late William H. Rehnquist before the debate began.