Tributes paid as Rehnquist buried

William Rehnquist was buried in Arlington National Cemetery

The funeral of US Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who died on Saturday aged 80, has taken place.

At the service, President George W Bush praised the "integrity and sense of duty" of the judge who served on the top court for three decades.

The Senate is to begin confirmation hearings on Monday on John Roberts, the president's choice to succeed Chief Justice Rehnquist.

Mr Roberts was among the pallbearers who carried the US flag-draped casket.

'Great American'

"We remember the integrity and the sense of duty that he brought to every task before him," President Bush told the congregation.

The funeral of Mr Rehnquist, a Lutheran Protestant, took place in Washington's St Matthew's Cathedral to allow more mourners to attend.

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick welcomed people to the church, and praised William Rehnquist as a "loving father and husband, an outstanding legal scholar, a tireless champion of life and a true lover of the law: in every sense, a great American".

His relatives described him as a devoted family man with a balanced outlook on life.

"No-one smelled more roses than my dad," said his son, James Rehnquist.

Mr Rehnquist was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Conservative shift

Chief Justice Rehnquist refused to resign as head of the Supreme Court despite being increasingly debilitated by thyroid cancer.

He was nominated to the Supreme Court in 1972, and appointed the nation's 16th chief justice by Ronald Reagan in 1986.

During his time, and in accordance with his views, the court became more conservative.

He championed states' rights, supported the death penalty and opposed abortion.

There is a rare second place on the nine-seat court available after the resignation of Justice Sandra Day Connor.

The future direction of the court is likely to be the subject of an intense battle in coming months as Democrats fight to stop President Bush giving the two seats to conservatives.