Washington ? The Supreme Court opens its term today with a young new leader, a veteran justice eager to retire and a calendar packed with contentious issues such as abortion, assisted suicide and capital punishment.

For the first time in 33 years, William H. Rehnquist will not be on the court. The 80-year-old chief justice died Sept. 3. Every day since, the flags in front of the court have flown at half-staff.

The Rehnquist court becomes the Roberts court following a brief tradition-rich ceremony for John Roberts, who learned about the inner workings of the place a quarter-century ago while clerking for Rehnquist.

Roberts, 50, will take an oath as President Bush and the eight justices watch on, then Roberts will pose for pictures on the steps of the court building.

The job presents immediate challenges.

For one, there are unanswered questions about Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s departure. She announced July 1 that she would be stepping down; Roberts was to replace her.

Bush shifted Roberts into the chief justice opening following Rehnquist’s death. The president has not named a successor to O’Connor and was spending part of this weekend at Camp David considering that choice.

O’Connor, 75, delayed her retirement following a personal appeal from the president.

Roberts is expected to vote similarly to Rehnquist, although it is unclear whether he will go as far as Rehnquist in supporting a reversal of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that established a woman’s right to abortion.

Whoever replaces O’Connor could make the court more conservative. The White House delayed a pick until after Roberts’ confirmation.