The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-5 on Thursday to approve the nomination of John G. Roberts Jr as chief justice for the U.S. Supreme Court.

All 10 Republicans on the panel voted for Roberts. Three Democrats also voted yes: Russell Feingold and Herbert Kohl of Wisconsin and Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the top Democrat.

The nomination will go to the Senate floor for a final vote. Roberts is expected to win confirmation by the end of the month although some Democrats will vote against him.

Roberts will be installed by the start of the October 2005-2006 term on October 3. On that day, the court will hear Wagnon v. Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, a dispute over the state of Kansas' attempt to impose a distribution tax on gasoline sold on the reservation.

Get the Story:
Senate Panel Endorses Roberts (The Washington Post 9/23)
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Panel Approves Roberts, 13-5, as 3 of 8 Democrats Back Him (The New York Times 9/23)
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