President Bush announced this morning that he will nominate John G. Roberts as the 17th chief justice of the United States.
If confirmed, Roberts will replace William H. Rehnquist, who died Saturday from cancer and will be buried Wednesday. Roberts clerked for Rehnquist in 1980 when Rehnquist was an associate justice.
Bush had selected Roberts in July to fill the seat of retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Senate committee hearings on the original nomination had been scheduled for Tuesday, but Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) said in a statement today that the hearings have been postponed.
Frist said Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) will issue a statement tomorrow morning with the new hearing schedule. "We still plan to complete Senate floor action on the Roberts nomination by the start of the new Supreme Court session, October 3, 2005," Frist said in his statement.
Details here from the Washington Post.