George W. Bush’s nomination of US appellate judge John G. Roberts to fill retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s seat on the US Supreme Court is a politically savvy choice that will draw increasing support as the US Senate moves towards a September vote on whether to approve or disapprove Judge Roberts’ selection.

Mr Bush’s choice is striking because Judge Roberts, age 50, has lived his entire professional life within the small,elite Washington world of the Court since he was a law clerk in 1980-81 to William Rehnquist, the now-ailing US chief justice. In the ensuing years, Judge Roberts argued 39 cases before the nine-justice Court, a remarkable number, first while representing the US government and then as a private attorney.