Judge John Roberts became the youngest US chief justice in two centuries after being sworn in on Thursday. Earlier, he easily won confirmation by a more than three-fourths majority in the Senate. Here is John Roberts: “Thank you, Mr.President, for nominating me. There is no way to repay the confidence you have shown in me, other than to do the best job I possibly can do, and I will try to do that every day. ” The 50 year old conservative protegee of the late William Rehnquist becomes the 17th chief justice, presiding over a Supreme Court that faces key decisions on abortion and other critical issues. The court opens a new term on Monday. Now the focus shifts to President Bush’s second Supreme Court nomination, which he is expected to make within days.