Selected Opinions of Chief Justice Rehnquist (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Sept. 7, 2005 |
| Report Number |
RL33066 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Kenneth R. Thomas and Todd B. Tatelman, American Law Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
William H. Justice Rehnquist, appointed to the Supreme Court by President Richard M. Nixon,
joined the United States Supreme Court as an associate Justice in 1972. In 1986, President Ronald
Reagan nominated him to replace Chief Justice Warren Burger, a position to which he was
confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 65 to 33. When Chief Justice Rehnquist died on September 3,
2005, he had served 33 years on the Court.
William H. Rehnquist had a significant influence over a number of issues during his years on
the Supreme Court. While he is most often associated with the Court's renewed interest in
federalism, he also made significant contributions in a number of other areas, including separation
of powers, church-state, criminal law, equal protection and due process. While he was often a lone
dissenter early in his career, his influence grew as the composition of the Court changed, and as he
persuaded other Justices of the merits of his position, many of his views gained ascendancy.
