Chief Justice John Roberts Watch: The First Monday in October

New U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts (R) shares a light moment with U.S. President George W. Bush (3rd L) and the Archbishop of Washington, Theodore McCarrick (2nd R) on the steps of St. Matthews Cathedral in Washington, October 2, 2005.

Reuters has Supreme court to open term with new chief justice.

The John Roberts era at the Supreme Court begins on Monday, when the youngest U.S. chief justice in 200 years presides in a term that will include cases on contentious issues such as abortion, assisted suicide and financing of political campaigns.

As the 17th U.S. chief justice, the 50-year-old Roberts succeeds fellow conservative
William Rehnquist, 80, who died a month ago, in a lifetime job that positions him to help shape the American way of life for decades.

The Supreme Court opens its term tomorrow with a number of important cases (abortion, assisted suicide, and Anna Nicole Smith) that should be decided along the same philosophical lines as the Rehnquist court.

After tomorrow’s opening, watch the President name his next nominee, Federal Appeals Court Judge Priscilla Owen.

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