Bush picks conservative judge for Supreme Court

WASHINGTON – President George W. Bush nominated conservative judge John Roberts to the US Supreme Court, a move that could shape the outcome of battles over volatile issues like abortion for decades.

Republicans welcomed the choice of a candidate with a reputation as a brilliant lawyer with right-wing credentials. But senior Democrats expressed doubts, setting the scene for a Senate battle over Roberts’ confirmation.”The decisions of the Supreme Court affect the life of every American,” the president said in a televised address late on Tuesday from the White House, with the 50-year-old federal appeals court judge at his side.”A nominee to that court must be a person of superb credentials and the highest integrity, a person who will faithfully apply the constitution and keep our founding promise of equal justice under law.I have found such a person in Judge John Roberts,” said Bush.Bush shrugged off pressure to pick a woman to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, a moderate conservative who was the first woman to serve on the court and often cast the deciding vote in controversial decisions.The president urged the Senate, where his Republican party has 55 of the 100 seats, to confirm Roberts by the first week of October, when the Supreme Court opens a new session.- Nampa-AFPBut senior Democrats expressed doubts, setting the scene for a Senate battle over Roberts’ confirmation.”The decisions of the Supreme Court affect the life of every American,” the president said in a televised address late on Tuesday from the White House, with the 50-year-old federal appeals court judge at his side.”A nominee to that court must be a person of superb credentials and the highest integrity, a person who will faithfully apply the constitution and keep our founding promise of equal justice under law.I have found such a person in Judge John Roberts,” said Bush.Bush shrugged off pressure to pick a woman to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, a moderate conservative who was the first woman to serve on the court and often cast the deciding vote in controversial decisions.The president urged the Senate, where his Republican party has 55 of the 100 seats, to confirm Roberts by the first week of October, when the Supreme Court opens a new session.- Nampa-AFP