President George W. Bush urged the Senate on Wednesday to be "fair and civil" to his first Supreme Court nominee, opening a campaign to head off a potential confirmation battle that could focus largely on John Roberts' views on abortion.
Roberts, 50, a member of the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia since 2003, arranged to begin a series of meetings later in the day with Democratic and Republicans senators who will help decide whether to confirm him to a seat on the nation's highest court.
"I urge the Senate to rise to the occasion, provide a fair and civil process, and to have Judge Roberts in place before the next court session begins on October 3," Bush said.
The nine-member court has the final say on all legal issues and has been the forum for resolving some of the United States' most divisive social questions, such as abortion, the death penalty and church-state separation.
If confirmed by the Senate, Roberts would replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a moderate conservative who often cast the swing vote in the court's numerous 5-4 decisions.
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