Yahoo! News
John G. Roberts Jr., a conservative protege of the late William H. Rehnquist, succeeded him Thursday and became the nation's youngest chief justice in two centuries, winning support from more than three-fourths of the Senate after promising he would be no ideologue.
Roberts, at 50, becomes the 17th chief justice, presiding over a Supreme Court that seems as divided as the nation over abortion and other tumultuous social issues. The court opens a new term on Monday.
"The Senate has confirmed a man with an astute mind and kind heart,"
President Bush said just before Roberts was sworn in by acting Chief Justice
John Paul Stevens. "All Americans can be confident that the 17th chief justice of the United States will be prudent in exercising judicial power, firm in defending judicial independence and above all a faithful guardian of the Constitution."
Roberts Takes Oath As Chief Justice
Well, I'm glad this episode of "irritating and irrational political partisan-ism" is over! He seems like a fine man. I wish him well and hope he acts in accordance with the principles that he publicly espoused.
Read Comments (1)
