Roberts Sworn in as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

John Roberts is the new Chief Justice of the United States.The 50-year-old was sworn in on September 29. Four hours earlier, the U.S. Senate voted 78-22 to confirm him. All 55 Republicans in the Senate voted yes.

Roberts replaces William Rehnquist on the Supreme Court. Rehnquist died of thyroid cancer on September 3. Roberts used to work for Rehnquist as a law clerk.

All nine Supreme Court Justices get equal votes on cases they decide. But as Chief Justice, Roberts plays a major role in deciding what cases the court will hear.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. The court system makes up the judicial branch of government in America. It determines if laws follow the U.S. Constitution.

The legislative branch, including the House of Representatives and Senate, makes laws. The president is the head of the executive branch. It makes sure laws are followed.

Presidents also get to nominate Supreme Court Justices. The Senate then confirms them. President George W. Bush suggested Roberts. His nomination drew strong support from both Republicans and Democrats.

Roberts praised

Bush called Roberts “an astute mind and a kind heart.”

Some criticized Bush's choice. They fear Roberts will be too conservative.

“I hope I am proven wrong about John Roberts,” Sen. Edward Kennedy told CNN. “I have been proven wrong before on my confirmation votes.”

Roberts is now the youngest member of the Supreme Court.

He is from the Buffalo, New York, area, and grew up in Indiana. He went to Harvard University and later worked under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush.

Most recently, he worked as a Federal Appeals Court judge.

Roberts began work the same day he was sworn in.

The biggest issue coming before the Supreme Court in the next year is abortion. The Supreme Court will hear several cases about the issue this year.

A 1973 Supreme Court ruling known as Roe vs. Wade made abortion legal. Pro-life advocates hope to overturn the ruling and ban legal abortions in this country.

Source: CNN.com