Roberts vows to seek consensus on US Supreme Court

WASHINGTON - US Chief Justice nominee John Roberts said if confirmed by the Senate he would seek consensus on the often bitterly divided Supreme Court and clear rulings to help guide lower courts.

Undergoing questioning for a second day by the Senate Judiciary Committee, Roberts appeared headed toward confirmation by the full Republican-led Senate to replace William Rehnquist and become the nation's 17th chief justice.

Without criticising any justices, Roberts told committee members: "I do think the chief justice has a particular obligation to try to achieve consensus consistent with everyone's individual oath to uphold the Constitution, and that would certainly be a priority for me if I were confirmed."

Roberts, a federal appeals court judge, spoke in response to questions from committee chairman Arlen Specter, a moderate Pennsylvania Republican who ripped into the nation's highest court for producing what he described as often-conflicting 5-4 decisions.

The court has been closely divided on issues including church-state separation and the death penalty. It has at times issued rulings that appeared to be at odds and based on narrow distinctions that failed to give broad legal principles.

Roberts, 50, a former Rehnquist law clerk who also served in the Reagan and first Bush administrations, has drawn bipartisan praise but also some sharp questioning from Democrats seeking his views on key issues including abortion.

Senator Joseph Biden, a Delaware Democrat, complained that Roberts' answers were so vague that Republicans thought he agreed with them while Democrats believed he was on their side.

"Without any knowledge of your understanding of the law, because you will not share it with us, we are rolling the dice with you, judge," Biden said.

Republicans control the Senate, holding 55 of 100 seats. A simple majority is needed to confirm Roberts. Democrats could try to block him with a procedural hurdle known as a filibuster that would require 60 votes to end, but no such move has been threatened.

Roberts again declined to say where he stands on one of the most volatile issues -- abortion -- hesitating even before answering when asked if he agreed life is opposite of death. He then said he did agree.

Roberts has declined to say if he favours reversing the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalised abortion, since the abortion-related cases are certain to come before the court and he does not want to be seen as prejudging them.

Democrats have challenged Roberts' commitment to civil rights and women's rights, based largely on memos stemming from his work as a young lawyer in the Reagan administration.

Roberts rejected such criticism in the first day of questioning. He noted that the memos he wrote reflected the policies of a conservative administration that approached such issues differently from liberal critics.

- REUTERS