NATIONAL NEWS
September 4, 2005
Remembering the Leader of the Supreme Court
Chief Justice William Rehnquist dies of cancer at the age of 80
 This portrait of Chief Justice William Rehnquist was taken in 2003. |
President George W. Bush led the nation Wednesday in a final goodbye to the leader of the nation’s highest court, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist.
Rehnquist, died of cancer at his home Arlington, Virginia late Saturday. He was 80.
A private funeral was held at historic St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington. There to honor the Chief Justice were family, close friends, former clerks, and Cabinet members. Rehnquist was later buried at Arlington National Cemetery near other justices.
"We remember the integrity and the sense of duty that he brought to every task before him," Bush said at the services.
A Life Devoted to Justice
Rehnquist spent 33 years serving as a Supreme Court judge. He was the court’s leader for the past 19 years.
The Supreme Court is the most powerful court in the nation. Its nine justices interpret the Constitution. Their rulings are the final word on many of the nation’s toughest issues. Rehnquist was considered to be one of the court’s most conservative judges.
Born in Wisconsin, Rehnquist graduated in 1952 at the top of his class at Stanford University law school in California. He worked as a lawyer until he accepted a job in 1969 working for President Richard Nixon in the Justice Department.
Rehnquist on the Court
Nixon appointed Rehnquist to the Supreme Court in 1972. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan promoted Rehnquist to the job of chief justice. As a Supreme Court judge, Rehnquist voted to allow more government money to pay for religious activities.
In 2000, he voted to stop a recount of ballots in Florida during the presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. The 5-4 Supreme Court vote gave Bush the presidency. During the final meeting day of the court’s last term, Rehnquist wrote the opinion to uphold a Ten Commandments display in Texas.
Rehnquist had been battling cancer since October but was determined to serve for as long as was able. He leaves behind three grown children. His wife died in 1991.
What’s Next?
Rehnquist’s death marks the second opening on the nine-member court. The first opening was created on July 1, when Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor announced she would step down. President Bush first nominated Judge John Roberts to fill that opening, but has now nominated him to replace Rehnquist as Chief Justice. That leaves O’Connor’s seat open and Bush has promised to quickly nominate someone to that seat.
Roberts must still be confirmed, or approved, by the U.S. Senate. Senate hearings are scheduled to begin Monday, September 12. Once approved, Supreme Court judges may serve as long as they wish. The court's new term starts on October 3.
