Supremes Newbie To Be: John Roberts Jr.

The word leaked out early, but the President just confirmed it.

President Bush on Tuesday selected U.S. Circuit Judge John Roberts Jr. as his nominee to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court...The move sets the stage for a possible battle with advocacy groups who have criticized Roberts in the past...Roberts, 50, who serves on U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, considered the most influential federal panel outside of the Supreme Court, took the bench in 2003 after his confirmation was held up two years by Senate Democrats...During the dispute over the 2000 presidential election, Roberts was part of a team of Republican lawyers and former Supreme Court law clerks who assisted the Bush-Cheney campaign. Moments after news of his nomination emerged, reaction indicated that a fight was expected.

Now it is time to see if "civility" is possible. Color me doubtful, at best.