Chief Justice of the United States

The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the Judicial Branch of the government of the United States, and presides over the Supreme Court of the United States.

Related Topics:
Judicial Branch - Government - United States - Supreme Court of the United States

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The current chief justice is John Roberts. Chief Justice Roberts was nominated by President George W. Bush on September 5, 2005, and was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 29 by a vote of 78-22.

Related Topics:
John Roberts - George W. Bush - September 5 - 2005 - United States Senate - September 29

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The office is often but incorrectly referred to as "Chief Justice of the Supreme Court." Title 28, United States Code, Sec. 1 specifies the title as "Chief Justice of the United States," and thus, not just of the Court itself. The title changed at the suggestion of Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase, who wished to emphasize the Court's role as a coequal branch of government. By contrast, the other eight members of the Court are Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, not "Associate Justices of the United States."

Related Topics:
United States Code - Salmon P. Chase - Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States

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The Chief Justice, like an Associate Justice, is nominated by the President and confirmed to sit on the Court by the U.S. Senate. The Constitution of the United States states that all Justices of the Court "shall hold their offices during good behavior," meaning that appointments are for life: they end only when a Justice chooses to retire, dies, or is impeached and convicted by the Congress. Some Chief Justices, like William H. Rehnquist, were elevated by the President after having served previously on the bench as an Associate Justice. Justices who are elevated to the position of Chief Justice from that of Associate Justice must again be confirmed by the Senate (a rejection by the Senate, however, does not end their tenure as an Associate Justice; it merely precludes them from serving as Chief Justice). Most Chief Justices, including Roberts, are nominated to the highest position on the Court without any previous experience on the Court; indeed some, like John Marshall and Earl Warren, without any prior judicial experience.

Related Topics:
Associate Justice - President - U.S. Senate - Constitution of the United States - Impeached - Congress - William H. Rehnquist - John Marshall - Earl Warren

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