US Chief Justice dies

President George W. Bush pledged yesterday to move quickly to nominate a successor to US Chief Justice William Rehnquist, whose death opens a second spot on the high court for the president to fill.

"There are now two vacancies on the Supreme Court and it will serve the best interest of the nation to fill those vacancies promptly," Mr Bush said at the White House.

"I will choose in a timely manner a highly qualified nominee to succeed Chief Justice Rehnquist," he said.

Mr Rehnquist's death creates a rare double opening and gives Mr Bush the chance to make a significant mark on shaping the court.

The Republican president's choices for the posts will be subject to intense political scrutiny from all sides, given the enormous power the court wields at the top of the judicial branch of the US government.

Mr Rehnquist, a conservative force who pushed the closely divided nine-member body to the right in his more than 30 years on the bench, died on Saturday at age 80 after a battle with thyroid cancer.

"His departure represents a great loss for the court and for our country," Mr Bush said.

Mr Rehnquist's death came just a month before the court was to open its new session, and only days before the US Senate was to open hearings on appeals court Judge John Roberts, whom Mr Bush chose in July to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor who has announced her resignation.

The court has not had two openings since 1971, but Ms O'Connor has pledged to remain on the bench until her successor is confirmed by the Senate, assuring the court will open with at least eight members next month.

The current court has been together for about 11 years, the longest period of stability since 1823.

Mr Rehnquist carved out a record as one of the most conservative jurists in US history on a court closely divided on such contentious issues as abortion, the death penalty and separation of church and state.

The Supreme Court's decisions on constitutional issues are final.

"As we look to the future of the Supreme Court, citizens of this nation can also look with pride and appreciation on the career of our late chief justice," Mr Bush said.

Mr Bush is expected to replace Rehnquist with an equally conservative justice, and administration officials have talked about the possibility he would nominate Roberts as chief justice.

While criticised by some Democrats as out of the mainstream, Mr Roberts had seemed likely to gain bipartisan confirmation by the Senate.

To fill a second opening on the court, Mr Bush could also return to the list of candidates he considered before nominating Mr Roberts.

Among possible candidates are US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and appeals court Judge J. Michael Luttig. Mr Bush could fill the two vacancies and then elevate a current justice such as Antonin Scalia or Clarence Thomas to the chief justice post.