The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to approve John Roberts’ nomination as the next Supreme Court chief justice, a move virtually assuring his confirmation by the Senate next week. The official tally was 13-5, with the committee’s 10 majority Republicans lined up solidly behind the conservative judge’s nomination to the full Senate weeks in advance. The five Democrats that voted against Roberts were: Dianne Feinstein of California, Joe Biden of Delaware, Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, Charles Schumer of New York and Dick Durbin of Illinois. Both Russ Feingold and Patrick Leahy voted in favor of Roberts stunning many in the pro-choice and civil liberties movements.