Senate Confirms Roberts as Chief Justice

By a vote of 78-22, the U.S. Senate today confirmed the nomination of John G. Roberts to become the 17th Chief Justice of the United States. In the roll call vote, 22 of 44 Democrats and the Senate’s one independent voted along with all 55 Republicans in confirming Roberts.

The 50-year-old Roberts will take his seat as the youngest Chief Justice in the last two centuries.

Roberts was nominated by President Bush to replace former Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who died on Sept. 3, 2005, after a two-year battle against cancer.

During 1980-1981, Roberts served as a law clerk for Supreme Court Associate Justice William Rehnquist, prior to Rehnquist's elevation to Chief Justice. From 1982-1986, he served as associate counsel to President Ronald Reagan.

Roberts was born on Jan. 27, 1955, in Buffalo, N.Y. He is married and is the father of a son and a daughter.

President Bush has yet to nominate a successor for retiring Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

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