John Roberts Chosen by Bush for U.S. Supreme Court

[Bond]

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. President George W. Bush selected John G. Roberts Jr., a Washington federal appeals court judge with a limited public record on social issues, to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court, administration officials said.

Roberts, 50, would succeed retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the court's current swing vote on abortion and affirmative action. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the first new justice since 1994.

In choosing Roberts, Bush opted for a nominee who may draw less opposition than more outspoken alternatives would have. Roberts was confirmed by the Senate on a voice vote for his seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in 2003.

Roberts is one of the country's most experienced Supreme Court practitioners. He argued 39 times at the high court on behalf of the U.S. government and private clients. He is a former Rehnquist law clerk who served as deputy solicitor general under the first President Bush.

Source: Bloomberg

Roberts seems to a solid choice with good credentials.