[msnimje]

If the President wants to nominate Judge Roberts as the Chief, does he do that now (before the hearings next week?)

[Congressman Billybob]

When anyone is nominated directly as Chief Justice, rather than being an Associate Justice first, there is only one Senate hearing. However, the rare few who have been nominated directly as Chief have usually held some substantial position prior to that.

Think William Howard Taft, who was named Chief after he had served as President of the US. Judge Roberts doesn't have the horsepower to be named directly as Chief. So my answer to your question is purely theoretical. IF Bush decided to nominate Roberts for Chief, he would withdraw the current nomination as Associate, and replace it with one for Chief. Then, the hearings would proceed as scheduled.

Congressman Billybob

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