Bush hints 'diversity' will guide next pick
By PATTY REINERT
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON - As the U.S. Senate began debating the chief justice nomination of John Roberts, President Bush hinted Monday that his next nominee to the Supreme Court likely will be a woman or minority. "I will pick a person who can do the job," Bush said of his pending nomination to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. "But I am mindful that diversity is one of the strengths of the country."
A vote on Roberts' confirmation is tentatively scheduled for Thursday.
Bush is expected to name his next nominee shortly after Roberts is confirmed, and Senate leaders have indicated the next choice could be seated before Thanksgiving.
Even before the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-5 last Thursday to send Roberts' nomination to the full Senate, lawmakers were moving on to the next confirmation hearings, which are widely expected to be a bigger fight.
Bush may make history by nominating the court's first Hispanic justice. Or he could maintain the court's makeup of seven men and two women.
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