Federal appeals court judge Michael Chertoff will be named as President Bush's new choice to succeed Tom Ridge as Homeland Security Chief. Bush's first choice, former New York City police chief Bernard Kerik, was forced to withdraw from consideration after problems arose due to his hiring of a housekeeper who he did not pay taxes for.

'I'm confident he'll be a strong and effective leader,' Bush said of Chertoff who is presently serving as a judge at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in New Jersey.

Chertoff is a Harvard Law School graduate who earlier worked at the Justice Department. He was involved in the government's legal response to the September 11th attacks. Prior to that, he served as the chief counsel for the Senate Republicans during the Whitewater investigations.

Chertoff still must be confirmed by the Senate. Hearings will not take place until after Bush's second inauguration, scheduled for January 20th.