Director's Annual Report

Chief Justice of the United States 1986–2005
Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court 1972–1986

He was, in the words of a U.S. Senate resolution, a man of enormous intellect and great common sense. He utilized those assets during his 34 years on the nation's highest court and 19 years as leader of the Federal Judiciary to advance his unwavering commitment to judicial restraint, judicial independence, and the rule of law.

Chief Justice William Hubbs Rehnquist died on September 3, 2005, leaving a judicial legacy rarely matched in American history. After a distinguished legal career in private practice and Department of Justice service, he was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Richard M. Nixon, taking his seat as the nation's 100th justice on January 1, 1972. After his nomination by President Ronald Reagan, he became the 16th Chief Justice of the United States on September 26, 1986.

He served for 19 years as "first among equals" on the Supreme Court, and as presiding officer of the policy-making Judicial Conference of the United States. In a memorial resolution, the Conference's 26 members praised his leadership: "He ran efficient, effective meetings—showing respect for the rules of order and expecting succinctness in presentation, while demonstrating the wit that was his hallmark."

The Chief Justice's concern for the welfare of the federal judicial system and for those who serve it was well-known. He also was a great friend of the Administrative Office, and attended several events in the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, including the ground-breaking for the building and the celebration marking the 60th anniversary of the AO.

For many years, Chief Justice Rehnquist used his Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary to discuss issues he believed were vital concerns to the federal courts, such as inter-branch relationships, judicial compensation, and criticism of judges.

"Judges have no monopoly of wisdom on matters affecting the Judiciary . . . Legislators and executive officials, no less than judges, are committed to the goals of an effective Judiciary," he wrote. "Legislators, executive officials and judges bring different perspectives to this question. The central challenge is to blend these sometimes conflicting perspectives into a responsible policy that will best serve the national interest. We have often met this challenge in the past and can do so again. We will fail in this endeavor, however, unless we work cooperatively, all the while retaining respect for the good faith of all participants and the legitimacy of their different perspectives."

Early in his tenure, he described inadequacy of judicial salaries as "the single greatest problem facing the Judicial Branch." In 2002, he discussed judicial salaries "at the risk of beating a dead horse," and said, "Inadequate judicial compensation seriously compromises the judicial independence fostered by life tenure."

In his final Year-End Report, he noted that criticisms of judges, although as old as the republic, "have in the eyes of some taken a new turn in recent years." He said the Constitution "has struck a balance between judicial independence and accountability, giving individual judges secure tenure but making the Federal Judiciary subject ultimately to the popular will because judges are appointed and confirmed by elected officials. It is not a perfect system—vacancies do not occur on regular schedules, and judges do not always decide cases the way their appointers may have anticipated. But for over 200 years, it has served our democracy well and ensured a commitment to the rule of law."

Chief Justice Rehnquist, too, served our democracy well and helped ensure a commitment to the rule of law.