Chief justice nominee to be grilled by US senate

US: A battle began in the US senate yesterday over the nomination of John Roberts as the next chief justice of the United States…

US: A battle began in the US senate yesterday over the nomination of John Roberts as the next chief justice of the United States, an appointment that could set the supreme court's tone for more than a generation

Mr Roberts, a conservative appeals court judge and President George Bush's choice, is expected to be confirmed, barring any shock developments in the course of the hearings. Even his critics admit he has excellent professional credentials, an affable personality, and no bombshell decisions on the bench.

Democrats on the senate judiciary committee made it clear yesterday that they did not intend to give him an easy ride, but would put him on the spot over his beliefs on abortion and other polarising social issues over which a Roberts court could have a decisive say in years to come.

"If you're confirmed, you serve not just for the remaining three years of the Bush administration, but you could serve through the administrations of the next seven or eight presidents," Senator Patrick Leahy said.

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Senator Edward Kennedy, who is expected to lead the Democratic charge against Mr Roberts, drew attention to statements by the nominee in which he referred to the "so-called" right to privacy, and expressed doubt that sex discrimination still existed.

"There are real and serious reasons to be deeply concerned about Judge Roberts's record," Mr Kennedy said. "Many of his past statements and writings raise questions about his commitment to equal opportunity and to the bipartisan remedies we've adopted in the past.

"The burden on him is especially heavy because the administration, at least so far, has chosen not to allow the senate to have access to his full record. We can only wonder what they don't want us to know."

Political observers said Democratic senators were also firing a shot across the president's bows as he contemplated the choice of a second nominee, following the death on September 3th of William Rehnquist, the chief justice.

"These hearings really are unpredictable," said Julian Zelizer, a political historian at Boston University. "In history, the most difficult hearings get difficult only after the hearings begin. The Democrats are going to try to trip him up."

Mr Zelizer continued: "It's a way of sending a message to the Bush administration about the next nominee. Conservative Republicans on the committee will do the same thing. The questions they ask Roberts aren't just for Roberts."

Democratic Party officials have said that while they did not expect to block Mr Roberts's confirmation, they could unite to stop a more controversial choice for the second vacancy.

Mr Bush is under pressure from core supporters on the evangelical right to nominate a hardliner. Some do not believe Mr Roberts is sufficiently committed to overturning Roe versus Wade, the 1973 decision guaranteeing a woman's right to an abortion.

There are also expectations that he should pick a woman or a member of a minority to fill the vacancy opened by Sandra Day O'Connor's decision to retire. - (Guardian service)