Bush chooses conservative judge to lead Supreme Court

US President George W. Bush (R) shakes hands with conservative appellate judge John Roberts. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

In a quick move, US President George W. Bush on Monday nominated conservative appellate judge John Roberts to succeed the late chief justice of the Supreme Court William Rehnquist.

During a speech broadcast live from the White House Oval Office, Bush said he expected the Senate to confirm Roberts as the new leader of the Supreme Court within a month.

Bush, who had picked Roberts in July to replace justice Sandra Day O'Connor after she announced that she was retiring, said he will announce a new nominee to replace her "in a timely manner."

Describing his nominee "a man of integrity and fairness," Bush said Roberts "built a record of excellence and achievement" in his extraordinary career.

Rehnquist, who had been chief justice for 19 of his 33 years on the Supreme Court, died Saturday night from thyroid cancer at the age of 80.

The court will resume working on Oct. 3.

Roberts, 50, was a federal appellate judge before being nominated to the Supreme Court.

The US Senate will vote on his confirmation after holding hearings which begin Tuesday.

The Supreme Court, which comprises a chief justice and eight associate justices, is enormously influential in American life, giving the final ruling on matters related to the US Constitution.

The chief justice sets the keynote for the court and coordinates the court's operations.

Source: Xinhua