John Roberts was sworn in as the 17th chief justice of the US Supreme Court on Thursday, after he was confirmed by the Senate earlier in the day.

Roberts, the youngest US chief justice in more than 200 years, succeeded the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, who died on Sept. 3.

Roberts would take the seat as chief justice when the new session of the Supreme Court begins on Oct. 3.

In brief remarks at the swearing-in ceremony at the White House, Roberts said, "I will try to ensure, in the discharge of my responsibilities ... I can pass on to my children's generation a charter of self-government as strong and as vibrant as the one that Chief Justice Rehnquist passed on to us."

"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," President George W. Bush said at the ceremony.

A federal appellate judge from Maryland, the 50-year-old Roberts was the first new chief justice since 1994 and had the potential to lead the Supreme Court for decades.

He was first nominated in July by President George W. Bush to succeed retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, but was renominated earlier this month to be chief justice after Rehnquist's death.

Source: Xinhua