Senate expected to confirm Roberts tomorrow
Roberts on the verge of becoming chief justice
A divided Democratic caucus on Wednesday assured Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. of a comfortable, bipartisan Senate confirmation as the nation’s 17th chief justice, the youngest in 200 years.
Many say they would have chosen someone else for the position, yet 21 Senate Democrats agreed he has “a brilliant legal mind” and are among the 76 senators — more than three-fourths of the 100-member Senate — who say they plan to vote to confirm the 50-year-old Roberts as the successor to the late William H. Rehnquist.
Democrats are uniting, however, in sending the White House a warning not to nominate a conservative ideologue to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. President Bush is expected to nominate O’Connor’s replacement soon after Roberts is sworn in as chief justice.
Claybourn on Roberts
Cloture Vote This Afternoon
No Flaming F(l)ags
Chief Justice Rehnquist Dies
Let’s get Jane Hamsher some Depends