Roberts: Man And Judge

President Bush arrives with federal appeals court judge John G. Roberts Jr., his choice to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, July 19, 2005, at the White House in Washington. Roberts, Mr. Bush's first nominee to the Supreme Court, is a rock-solid conservative who has won broad support from both parties but still faces what could be a contentious battle over the direction of the nation's highest court.

President Bush walks past a portrait of Ronald Reagan with federal appeals court judge John G. Roberts Jr., July 19, 2005, on his way to announce Roberts as his first nominee for the Supreme Court. If confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate, the 50-year-old Roberts would succeed retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

President Bush stands with his nominee for the Supreme Court, John G. Roberts Jr., at the White House July 19, 2005.

President Bush walks with federal appeals court judge John G. Roberts Jr. July 19, 2005, as he prepared to name his first nominee for the Supreme Court.

President Bush shakes hands with his nominee for the Supreme Court at the White House July 19, 2005.

President Bush's nominee for the Supreme Court, John G. Roberts Jr., speaks at the White House July 19, 2005.

President Bush introduces his nominee for the Supreme Court, John G. Roberts Jr., left, as his son John (Jack), 4, dances, and wife Jane and daughter Josephine (Josie), 5, look on in the State Dining Room at the White House, July 19, 2005.

Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts leaves his home on July 20, 2005, in Chevy Chase, Md. Roberts was beginning his confirmation campaign to nail down Republican Senate support and overcome Democrats' fears that he would push the nation's highest court far to the right on abortion and other polarizing issues.

Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts backs out of his driveway at his Chevy Chase, Md., home July 20, 2005. He was on his way to the White House to have coffee with President Bush.

President Bush and Roberts enjoy early-morning coffee at the White House July 20, 2005.

In this photo released by LaLumiere School in LaPorte, Ind., John G. Roberts Jr. is shown in a 1973 yearbook photo.

Back on May 9, 2001, federal judge nominees Edith Brown Clement, Roger Gregory, and John G. Roberts Jr. were all smiles before the start of a ceremony in the East Room at the White House.

Here is another photo from May 9, 2001, a group shot of President Bush's federal judicial appointments: First row left to right, Judge Dennis Shedd, Miguel Estrada, Judge Priscilla Owens, second row, Jeffrey Sutton, Judge Edith Brown Clement, Judge Roger Gregory, John G. Roberts Jr., third row, Judge Terrence Boyle, Michael McConnell, Judge Deborah Cook, and Judge Barrington Parker.

Conservative demonstrators hold a candle light vigil and prayer service outside the Supreme Court after President Bush announced his nomination of John G. Roberts Jr. for the vacant Supreme Court justice position July 19, 2005.

President Bush announces Roberts (at left) as his Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee in the Oval Office Sept. 5, 2005. Now that Mr. Bush has nominated Roberts to succeed William Rehnquist as chief justice, he still has to pick a successor for Sandra Day O'Connor. The president called on the Senate to confirm Roberts before the Supreme Court opens its fall term on Oct. 3.

Judge John Roberts is sworn in as the 17th U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice on Sept. 29, 2005 at the White House in Washington, D.C. by Associate Justice John Paul Stevens. Roberts was confirmed by the U.S. Senate earlier in the day by a margin of 78-22. In attendance are President George W. Bush and Roberts' wife, Jane.