Roberts "Re-Nominated" To Replace Rehnquist as Chief Justice

President Bush announced this morning that he was nominating Judge John Roberts to succeed Willam Rehnquist as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Roberts was originally nominated to replace Sandra Day O'Conner, who, last Spring, announced her intention to retire. Today's announcment will add an additional twist to Roberts' Senate confirmation hearings. The hearings were scheduled to begin this week but, in lieu of Hurricane Katrina and the death of Justice Rehnquist, it is expected that there will be at least some delay.

I posted on the likelihood of Roberts' nomination as Chief Justice soon after Rehnquist's death. For both political and judicial reasons I support the President in this decision.