John Roberts, 2005 News

judge, was nominated by President Bush in July to replace Sandra Day O'Connor as an associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. By all accounts, the Harvard-educated, deeply religious lawyer, who served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit since 2003, is extremely intelligent and a “regular guy” who is not seen as an ideologue. In September, President Bush nominated Roberts to succeed William Rehnquist as chief justice. The Senate confirmed Roberts, 78–22, later in the month. Conservatives welcomed the nomination. Democrats, however, complained that Roberts was not sufficiently forthcoming in his answers to their questions during confirmation hearings.