The US Supreme Court will today hear its first major abortion case in five years - the first big test of how the new chief justice, John Roberts, will rule on this controversial issue, reportsPatti Waldmeir in Washington.

Abortion is the focus of the political battle over the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has ruled to uphold a woman's right to end her pregnancy under most circumstances. Today's case, which is expected to be close, could end up being decided by Judge Alito, if he takes his place on the bench as expected early in the new year. It could also provide the first clues to the direction of the newly constituted court on an issue that matters more to ordinary Americans than anything else on the court's docket.