NBC Nightly News - John Roberts Sworn In as Chief Justice of the United States

NBC NIGHLTY NEWS
September 29, 2005

John Roberts sworn in as Chief Justice of the US

BRIAN WILLIAMS, anchor:

Tonight, there is a new chief justice of the United States: John Glover Roberts. Chief Justice Roberts was sworn in at the White House today, amid obvious pride over his selection and confirmation. Across town at the Capitol, there is trepidation, especially among Democrats, knowing the president has another pick for the court pending. For now, a young and by all accounts brilliant lawyer today became just the 17th chief justice in American history at the age of 50. The Roberts era on the court begins now. Our coverage begins tonight with our justice correspondent Pete Williams.

PETE WILLIAMS reporting:

Leaving home this morning, John Roberts appeared upbeat.

Mr. JOHN ROBERTS: I'm looking forward to the vote.

PETE WILLIAMS: And with good reason.

Offscreen Voice: Mr. Frist.

Senator BILL FRIST: Aye.

PETE WILLIAMS: With unusual formality, all senators at their assigned desks, every Republican voted for him, so did half the Democrats.

Unidentified Man: On this vote, the ayes are 78, the nays are 22.

President GEORGE W. BUSH: The Senate has confirmed a man with an astute mind and a kind heart.

PETE WILLIAMS: At the White House this afternoon, the youngest chief justice in nearly 200 years, was sworn in by John Paul Stevens, at age 85, the court's senior member.

Justice JOHN PAUL STEVENS: So help me, God.

Mr. ROBERTS: So help me, God.

There is no way to repay the confidence you have shown in me, other than to do the best job I possibly can do, and I will try to do that every day.

PETE WILLIAMS: Roberts was the easy one. Now the president must choose someone to succeed the moderate Sandra Day O'Connor, often the deciding swing vote, as the court prepares to tackle such divisive issues as access to abortion and physician-assisted suicide. Conservatives are pushing for someone decidedly to the right of O'Connor.

Mr. JAY SEKULOW (American Center for Law & Justice): There's no doubt that I have and others have worked with the White House and want to make sure that the nominee that comes forward is someone that's going to be in the mold of Scalia and Thomas.

PETE WILLIAMS: But if the president chooses a solid conservative, that would be a tougher sell, including to moderates in his own party.

Senator OLYMPIA SNOW (Republican, Maine): I'm certainly hoping, and many of us are hoping, that he will select an individual that would be in the mold of Sandra Day O'Connor. And, obviously, I think that would be critical.

PETE WILLIAMS: Tonight, insiders say the next nominee will likely be announced Monday, the day John Roberts takes his seat and formally opens the court's new term. Pete Williams, NBC News, at the Supreme Court.
NBC NIGHLTY NEWS
September 29, 2005
John Roberts sworn in as Chief Justice of the US

BRIAN WILLIAMS, anchor:

Tonight, there is a new chief justice of the United States: John Glover Roberts. Chief Justice Roberts was sworn in at the White House today, amid obvious pride over his selection and confirmation. Across town at the Capitol, there is trepidation, especially among Democrats, knowing the president has another pick for the court pending. For now, a young and by all accounts brilliant lawyer today became just the 17th chief justice in American history at the age of 50. The Roberts era on the court begins now. Our coverage begins tonight with our justice correspondent Pete Williams.

PETE WILLIAMS reporting:

Leaving home this morning, John Roberts appeared upbeat.

Mr. JOHN ROBERTS: I'm looking forward to the vote.

PETE WILLIAMS: And with good reason.

Offscreen Voice: Mr. Frist.

Senator BILL FRIST: Aye.

PETE WILLIAMS: With unusual formality, all senators at their assigned desks, every Republican voted for him, so did half the Democrats.

Unidentified Man: On this vote, the ayes are 78, the nays are 22.

President GEORGE W. BUSH: The Senate has confirmed a man with an astute mind and a kind heart.

PETE WILLIAMS: At the White House this afternoon, the youngest chief justice in nearly 200 years, was sworn in by John Paul Stevens, at age 85, the court's senior member.

Justice JOHN PAUL STEVENS: So help me, God.

Mr. ROBERTS: So help me, God.

There is no way to repay the confidence you have shown in me, other than to do the best job I possibly can do, and I will try to do that every day.

PETE WILLIAMS: Roberts was the easy one. Now the president must choose someone to succeed the moderate Sandra Day O'Connor, often the deciding swing vote, as the court prepares to tackle such divisive issues as access to abortion and physician-assisted suicide. Conservatives are pushing for someone decidedly to the right of O'Connor.

Mr. JAY SEKULOW (American Center for Law & Justice): There's no doubt that I have and others have worked with the White House and want to make sure that the nominee that comes forward is someone that's going to be in the mold of Scalia and Thomas.

PETE WILLIAMS: But if the president chooses a solid conservative, that would be a tougher sell, including to moderates in his own party.

Senator OLYMPIA SNOW (Republican, Maine): I'm certainly hoping, and many of us are hoping, that he will select an individual that would be in the mold of Sandra Day O'Connor. And, obviously, I think that would be critical.

PETE WILLIAMS: Tonight, insiders say the next nominee will likely be announced Monday, the day John Roberts takes his seat and formally opens the court's new term. Pete Williams, NBC News, at the Supreme Court.