Bush's choice:John Roberts

Judge wrote high court brief arguing Roe wrongly decided

President Bush has selected appeals court Judge John Roberts to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy left by the retiring Sandra Day O'Connor.

Notably, Roberts co-wrote a Supreme Court brief for the first Bush administration arguing the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that overturned state laws banning abortion was wrongly decided.

With interest groups from both left and right poised for action, speculation in Washington earlier today centered on Judge Edith Clement of the U.S. Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

Roberts, 50, was appointed to the D.C. Circuit in 2003 by Bush. He also was nominated by the president's father but never received a Senate vote.

Before his appointment, he practiced at Hogan & Hartson from 1986 to 1989 and 1993-2003.

He served as principal deputy solicitor general in the first Bush administration.

During the Reagan administration, he served as a special assistant to the attorney general from 1981 to 1982 and as associate counsel to the president from 1982 to 1986.

Roberts attended Harvard College and Harvard Law School and clerked for Judge Henry Friendly on the 2nd Circuit and for Chief Justice William Rehnquist.

Roberts, 50, is married with two children.