Bush picks John Roberts to be Chief Justice

US President George Bush today nominated John Roberts to succeed William Rehnquist as chief justice of the Supreme Court. Rehnquist died at the weekend.

Bush called on the Senate to confirm Roberts before the top US court opens its next term on October 3.

Roberts, who once clerked for Rehnquist, said he would be honoured, “to succeed a man I deeply respect and admire”.

Bush said it was important to have nine justices in place on the bench for the start of the court’s new term.