csua.org/u/dki -> www.usatoday.com/news/washington/judicial/2005-09-29-robertsconfirmation_x.htm
Roberts era begins on Supreme Court By Kathy Kiely and Joan Biskupic, USA TODAY WASHINGTON John Roberts, a well-regarded legal insider who has said his passion for the law transcends his personal ideology, was sworn in Thur sday as the nation's 17th chief justice and the youngest in 204 years.
Charles Dharapak, AP Roberts, 50, took his oath at the White House hours after being confirmed by the Senate 78-22. He succeeds the late William Rehnquist, for whom h e once clerked.
Roberts sworn in) Half of the Senate's 44 Democrats and Sen. Jim Jeffords, an independent, joined all 55 Senate Republicans to back Roberts. The new chief justice called the vote "confirmation of what is for me a bedrock principle, tha t judging is different from politics." President Bush praised Roberts' "integrity, deep humility and uncommon ta lent" and his "reverence for the Constitution." Roberts is the first of at least two appointments Bush will make to the c ourt. The president has said he will nominate a successor to retiring Ju stice Sandra Day O'Connor soon.
The president has hinted he wo uld like to appoint the court's first Hispanic. In a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallu p Poll taken this week, 40% said they would like to see the next Supreme Court justice be a woman or minority. Roberts' youth could extend Bush's legacy far beyond the president's Whit e House years. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, noted, justices often surprise presidents who appoint them. During his confirmation hearings, Roberts avoided giving specifics about his views on abortion and other controversial issues, arguing that it wa sn't appropriate to comment on matters that might come before the high c ourt. Confirmation of the first new justice in 11 years was marked by an unusua lly formal roll call with all senators at their desks to vote. The solemnity was broken at the White House, when Bush acknowledged the p resence of Roberts' son, Jack, "a fella who is comfortable with the came ras." Bush clearly had not forgotten the 4-year-old's lively antics when the president introduced his Supreme Court nominee in July. Roberts jokingly thanked senators for helping tackle "the very serious ch allenge" of his confirmation hearings: "We found a way to get Jack into the committee room ... On Monday, Roberts will preside as the Supreme Court begins a new term.
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