The Senate Judiciary Committee voted in favor of Judge John Roberts' nomination for chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Thursday.

Three of the committee's eight Democrats and all 10 Republicans gave Roberts the nod, passing his nomination to the full Senate for consideration. Wisconsin's two senators, both Democrats, voted in support of Roberts' nomination after much debate.

"This has not been an easy decision, but I believe it is the correct one," Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., said in a statement to Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter.

Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., also supported Roberts and said in a statement to the committee that he has "enormous respect" for the appeals court judge.

"It is for this reason — his distinguished career and his sterling reputation as a lawyer and a judge — that I will vote my hopes today and not my fears and support Judge Roberts," Kohl said.

President George W. Bush nominated Roberts to replace former Chief Justice William Rehnquist after Rehnquist passed away earlier this month. Former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor stepped down from the Supreme Court bench at the beginning of July due to her husband's battle with cancer. Her position has yet to be filled.

The full U.S. Senate will now decide on Roberts' nomination, which is likely to take place sometime next week. The 55 Republicans in the U.S. Senate are all anticipated to vote in support of Roberts, as are several Democrats.

However, there was some dissent among committee members — five senators, all Democrats, voted against the Roberts nomination, questioning his stance on several key issues.

"The values and perspective displayed over and over again in his record cast doubt on his view of voting rights, women's rights, civil rights and disability rights," Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., echoed the concern about Roberts' opinions on women's rights, citing instances when Roberts had written comments she alleged "appeared to demonstrate a denigrating view of issues impacting women" in margin notes.

"I expected him to admit that the derogatory comments about women were wrong or that at least he regretted making them," Feinstein said in a release.

Feinstein also said Roberts' questionable response when asked about how he would deal with the right to privacy led her to vote against his nomination.

Brian Shactman, chair of College Democrats, said he supported Kohl and Feingold's decisions, adding the senators struggled with the issue.

"Obviously, they think Judge Roberts is an appropriate replacement for Chief Justice Rehnquist," Shactman said. "They feel Roberts has a firm belief in the law and upholding the law."

Shactman said though Roberts evaded some questions that were put to him, he believes Roberts will uphold rulings previously made by the Supreme Court.

"I would have liked him to have answered a few more questions," Shactman said. "But he has said he will respect precedent."

Christine Mangi, communications director for the Republican Party of Wisconsin, said though it comes as no surprise, the vote by the committee is good news.

"We're delighted he has been confirmed," Mangi said. "He's an excellent candidate."

Mangi also said Kohl and Feingold made the right choice in voting in Roberts' favor.

"We were pleasantly surprised that both of them decided to support him," Mangi said. "We commend them for putting the politics aside in the interest of the country."

Though the Senate has yet to vote on Roberts' nomination, Mangi said there will undoubtedly be enough votes in his favor.

"We have every indication to believe that he will be confirmed in the full Senate," Mangi said.

Because the Senate vote is so likely to go in Roberts' favor, politicians are now anticipating the nomination for Day O'Connor's replacement, which is expected to draw more partisan controversy than the Roberts nomination.

In addition, there has been talk of Justice John Paul Stevens' impending retirement, which would create a third vacancy on the nation's highest judicial bench.

"I'm very much concerned if, next June, Justice Stevens retires," Specter said. "If you have three appointees to the court, you have a potential to have a sharp turn on the court, and that's a matter of concern."

— The Associated Press contributed to this article.