Who is the Greatest Chief Justice in US History
14 members have voted
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1. Which of the following is the greatest Chief Justice in US History?
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John Jay (NY), 1789-1795, appointed by Washington. Primarily established basic rules and procedures, such as refusing to endorse legislation. Heard only 4 court cases.0
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John Rutledge (SC), 1795, appointed by Washington. Filled Jay's vacancy for 6 months but denied confirmation by the Senate for supposed mental decline and alcohol abuse. Denounced the Jay Treaty as ChJustice.0
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Oliver Ellsworth (CT), 1796-1800, appointed by Washington. Set precedence for judicial opinion writing on cases. Also confirmed that the president played no role in amending the Constitution.0
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John Marshall (VA), 1801-1835, appointed by JAdams. Formally established judicial review. Confirmed the supremacy of federal law over state law. Established the Court as the final authority on Constitutional cases.
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Roger Taney (MD), 1836-1864, appointed by Jackson. Routinely defended states over the federal government in cases that he could. Presided over the infamous Dred Scott Decision. Ruled against Lincoln's Suspension of the Writ of Habeaus Corpus.0
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Salmon P. Chase (OH), 1864-1873, appointed by Lincoln. Ruled that the US was a permanent and indestructible union. Presided over AJohnson's impeachment. Sought the presidency as ChJ.0
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Morrison Waite (OH), 1874-1888, appointed by Grant. A moderate that balanced federal and state power, allowing states to establish Jim Crow laws after Reconstruction, and to deny women the right to vote. He argued that the States had to suppress the KKK, not the Fed Gov't.0
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Melville Fuller (ME), 1888-1910, appointed by Cleveland. Made famous the "equal justice under the law" and "separate but equal." Ruled in favor of segregation and monopolies and against income tax.0
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Edward D. White (LA), 1910-1921, appointed by Taft. Conservative judge that upheld military drafts, opposed child labor laws, took middle ground on monopolies, but ruled in favor of the 8-hour work day, and for protecting black voting rights in the South.0
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William Howard Taft (OH), 1921-1930, appointed by Harding. Declared the president did not need confirmation to remove cabinet members, opposed women equality, argued that states cannot deny free speech0
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Charles Evans Hughes (NY), 1930-1941, appointed by Hoover. Supported Civil Rights, most of the New Deal, argued that Congress could regulate labor, worked to block FDR's court-packing scheme0
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Harlan Stone (NH), 1941-1946, appointed by FDR. Relatively inactive. Allowed US to try Nazi's captured on American soil in military tribunals.0
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Fred Vinson (KY), 1946-1953, appointed by Truman. Moderate. Voided Truman's seizure of the steel industry during a strike. Did not oppose segregation, but argued that both races must have equal facilities.0
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Earl Warren (CA), 1953-1969, appointed by Eisenhower. Progressive. Banned segregation in public schools. Defended Black voting rights in the South. Ruled to ensure voting in state legislatures were fair (one man, one vote). Warren Commission--JFK Assassination.
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Warren Berger (MN), 1969-1986, appointed by Nixon. Supported busing to reduce segregation. Presided Roe v. Wade. Opposed Gay Rights. Presided during Nixon's Watergate.0
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William Rehnquist (AZ), 1986-2005, appointed by Reagan. Presided over Clinton impeachment. Conservative, generally favoring states over federal power, including in cases of civil rights and anti-discrimination, and freedom of religion cases.
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John Roberts (DC), 2005-present, appointed by GW Bush. Generally conservative; however, he's been moderate on issues like abortion, and he defended Obamacare.0
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2. Will you post your ranking of best to worst SC Justices in the comments?
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Yes.0
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Yes, if you remind me later.
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No.
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