President Bush To Nominate Second Justice

The expected Senate approval of the nomination of Judge John Roberts to replace the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist will clear the way for President Bush to name a successor to retiring Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Many believe that the President has held off his second nomination to the Supreme Court to assure that attention remained focused on Judge Roberts and to prevent political considerations surrounding a second nominee from interfering with his confirmation.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah, said today on MSNBC that he hoped that the President would nominate on the basis of qualifications rather than diversity. Interviewed on the Don Imus program, Sen. Hatch said that the President might postpone a diversity-based decision until a third appointment, and that Attorney-General Alberto Gonzalez might be a candidate for that nomination.