Focus of court's year more about changing faces than changing laws

Published: 2005-12-09

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- With the death of the chief justice, another justice's resignation and the nominations of their replacements, the Supreme Court proved to be a lively source of news in 2005 quite aside from its jurisprudence. By the end of the year, its makeup remained in flux, and it appeared likely that by February the high court would for the first time have a majority of five Catholic members. The two-person change also could signal a shift in the direction the court takes on narrowly decided issues. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor announced July 1 that she would step down as soon as her replacement was confirmed. President George W. Bush nominated Judge John Roberts, 50, of the federal appeals court for the District of Columbia to replace her, and plans proceeded for confirmation hearings early in September. On Sept. 3, Chief Justice William Rehnquist died at age 80. Two days later, Bush nominated Roberts to fill the chief justice's seat. He also asked O'Connor, 75, to remain on the court while a new nominee for her seat was chosen. Roberts sailed through Senate hearings, and was sworn in just in time for the traditional court term opening on the first Monday in October. Also on Oct. 3, Bush announced his second nominee for O'Connor's seat, White House counsel Harriet Miers. But Miers' nomination was quickly embroiled in controversy, and by the end of the month she had withdrawn her nomination. Bush then announced his third choice for the seat, Judge Samuel Alito Jr. of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. His confirmation hearings were scheduled to start Jan. 9.

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