New chief justice for US

2005-09-05 12:53

Washington - President George W Bush on Sunday promised to quickly nominate a successor to Supreme Court chief justice William Rehnquist, whose death has given the president a chance to put a conservative stamp on the court for decades to come.

Rehnquist, who had been Chief Justice of the United States for 19 years and presided over cases ranging from the impeachment of President Bill Clinton to Bush's controversial election win, died on Saturday night from thyroid cancer at his home in the Washington suburbs, the Supreme Court said in a statement.

The 80-year-old was diagnosed with cancer in October but despite several hospital stays had carried on working on court papers up to the final days before his death, officials said.

Bush, who now has two vacancies to fill on the Supreme Court, paid tribute to Rehnquist, who had been at the centre of the conservative camp within the nine justices.

"He was respected for his deep commitment to the rule of law and his profound devotion to duty," said Bush at the White House. "He provided superb leadership for the federal court system, improving the delivery of justice for the American people and earning the admiration of his colleagues throughout the judiciary."

"There are now two vacancies on the Supreme Court. And it will serve the best interests of the nation to fill those vacancies promptly," Bush said.

Political fight over makeup of Supreme Court

"I will choose, in a timely manner, a highly-qualified nominee to succeed chief justice Rehnquist."

Rehnquist's death follows the announcement by justice Sandra Day O'Connor in July she would retire. Bush has already nominated John Roberts, a conservative federal appeals court judge, to take her place.

Rehnquist had been on the court for 33 years in all. His death, along with O'Connor's retirement, broadens the political fight over the makeup of the Supreme Court.

Confirmation hearings for Roberts, a conservative, were to start on Tuesday. Democrats had been expected to closely question Roberts, who was once a clerk to Rehnquist, but some senators said the process should be delayed out of respect for the chief justice.

Roberts is expected to face a tough questioning on his positions on issues ranging from abortion to the role of government.

The most mentioned name to become chief justice is Antonin Scalia, a pillar of the Supreme Court's conservative faction. Appeals court Judge Michael Luttig or Attorney General Alberto Gonzales are seen as candidates to take Scalia's place.

Sensing a sea change ahead, National Organisation for Women President Kim Gandy said Rehnquist's death gives Bush an opportunity to "not only upset the delicate balance on this Supreme Court, but also extend his right-wing ideology and disregard for individual rights to the third branch of government - the judiciary."

Roberts hailed Rehnquist on Sunday.

"My family and I have lost a very dear friend," he told US media.

"We're going to miss him very much," said Roberts, who served years ago as a law clerk to Rehnquist, of his mentor.

Rehnquist impact profound

A reserved man of scholarly demeanor, Rehnquist was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1971 by President Richard Nixon and elevated to chief justice by President Ronald Reagan in 1986.

Former first lady Nancy Reagan said Sunday that her late husband appointed Rehnquist as chief justice "with great confidence that Justice Rehnquist would provide the leadership to guide the courts in their proper role."

A man of deep conservative convictions, Rehnquist often wrote dissenting opinions to landmark cases, such as Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 decision which ruled that abortion was a constitutional right.

Rehnquist was a strong opponent of abortion, gay rights, gun control and affirmative action for minorities. Even as a law clerk with the Supreme Court in the early 1950s, he wrote a memorandum arguing against school desegregation.

"The imprint of his gavel has been deep," commented Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. "Its impact has been profound."

In 1999, he presided over the impeachment trial - and acquittal - of President Bill Clinton in the Senate over charges of perjury and obstruction of justice stemming from his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

A year later, Rehnquist and four other Republican-nominated justices, ordered the end of a presidential election ballot recount in Florida, giving the presidency to Bush.

Born October 1, 1924, William Hubbs Rehnquist grew up in Shorewood, Wisconsin, and got his law degree from Stanford University in California.

- AFP