The Washington Post reports that President Bush has selected Judge John G. Roberts to replace Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, who died on Saturday. Read the story Bush Nominates Roberts as Chief Justice.
The President had chosen Judge Roberts in July to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who is retiring. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) said in a statement today that the hearings have been postponed.
The Post reports that "Bush's announcement today, which was surprising primarily in its speed, avoids a prolonged public vetting of an entirely new nominee for the chief justice's job. While some liberal organizations have stated their opposition to Roberts' appointment as an associate justice, there was little doubt that he was going to be confirmed for that position, barring any startling revelations."
And later:
As for possible candidates now for O'Connor's seat on the bench, potential candidates Bush scrutinized on the first go-around were his close friend Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales; his former deputy attorney general, Larry D. Thompson; and a handful of federal appeals judges, including Edith Hollan Jones, Edith Brown Clement, J. Harvie Wilkinson III, J. Michael Luttig, Emilio M. Garza and Priscilla R. Owen.
Read the story Bush Nominates Roberts as Chief Justice.
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