The Senate Judiciary Committee is opening confirmation hearings for U.S. Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr.

The hearings were slated to start last week but were delayed due to the death of former chief justice William H. Rehnquist and Hurricane Katrina. Roberts, at first nominated to replace the retiring associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, is now nominated to replace Rehnquist as chief justice.

The hearing today will consist of opening statements by members of the committee. There are eight Republicans and six Democrats on the panel.

Roberts will be introduced by Sens. Richard G. Lugar (R-Indiana), John Warner (R-Virginia) and Evan Bayh (D-Indiana). He will then make his opening statement.

The actual questioning isn't expected to start until tomorrow. Senators are expected to ask Roberts about his legal philosophy and his legal writings on subjects like civil rights, privacy and abortion.

The hearing will start at 12pm and will be broadcast online [Committee Web Site | Capitol Hearings] by a variety of sources and by C-SPAN [Web Site].

Get the Story:
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