Judge John Roberts, President George W. Bush's nominee to the US Supreme Court, on Wednesday won the enthusiastic backing of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the big US trade group.

John Engler, the group's president, said Mr Roberts had demonstrated a deep understanding of business issues during his career as a lawyer in private practice, and a federal appeals court judge. The US Chamber of Commerce is also expected to endorse the judge before his nomination hearings begin early next month.