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The Nomination
White House
staff compile and review a "short list" of desirable or plausible
candidates, staff analyze past judicial decisions, writings,
speeches, employment history and other information to develop
a profile of a candidate and to identify any potential obstacles
to his or her successful confirmation. |
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| Sept. 5, 2005: President Bush elevated
federal appellate Judge John Roberts' nomination to that of
chief justice of the United States, following the death of
Chief Justice William Rehnquist. |
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Senate Hearings
Under Article
II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the Constitution, the role of
the Senate is to provide its advice and consent to a nomination.
Key senators, particularly those on the Senate Judiciary
Committee, typically are consulted in advance by the White
House about the merits of potential nominees. After a nomination
is made, it is assigned to the Judiciary Committee.
The committee
holds public hearings and votes on whether to report the
nomination to the full Senate. A majority vote of the Senate
is required to confirm a nominee.
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| Sept. 22, 2005: The Senate Judiciary
Committee voted 13-5 to recommend that the full Senate confirm
Roberts as chief justice, after holding a week's worth of
confirmation hearings Sept. 12-15. |
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Confirmation Vote
Once the
Senate has acted on a nomination, the secretary of the Senate
attests to a resolution of confirmation or rejection, which
is transmitted to the White House. |
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| Sept. 29, 2005: The Senate confirmed
Roberts as the 17th chief justice of the United States by
a 78-22 vote. |
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Swearing In
Justices
of the Supreme Court take two oaths, the Constitutional Oath,
required of all federal employees, and the Judicial Oath,
set out in the Judiciary Act of 1789. Since 1986, the Constitutional
Oath ceremony has taken place at the White House and the Judicial
Oath in the courtroom. |
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| Sept. 29, 2005: John Roberts is
sworn in as chief justice at the White House by Justice John
Paul Stevens. |
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