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Choosing a Chief Justice: Presidential Prerogative Or a Job for the Court?

Todd E. Pettys
University of Iowa - College of Law



Journal of Law & Politics, Vol. 22, p. 231, 2006
University of Iowa Legal Studies Research Paper No. 07-03

Abstract:     
This Article contends that the United States Supreme Court's nine members should be permitted to decide for themselves who among them will serve as Chief Justice. The Article does not challenge the Constitution's procedure for filling vacancies on the Court; rather, it argues that, once the President and the Senate have staffed the Court with a full complement of Justices, those Justices should be allowed to choose their own leader. After pointing out the Constitution's silence on the matter, the Article argues that our practice of allowing the President to specify which Justice will be Chief is a vestige of a time when people believed the Chief Justice would be one of the President's most trusted aides. The Article identifies numerous reasons why the President- and Senate-centered selection practice should be changed.

Keywords: chief justice, supreme court, appointment

JEL Classifications: K19, K39, K49

Accepted Paper Series

Date posted: January 25, 2007 ; Last revised: February 13, 2007

Suggested Citation

Pettys, Todd E., Choosing a Chief Justice: Presidential Prerogative Or a Job for the Court?. Journal of Law & Politics, Vol. 22, p. 231, 2006; University of Iowa Legal Studies Research Paper No. 07-03. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=958829


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Contact Information

Todd E. Pettys (Contact Author)
University of Iowa - College of Law ( email )
Melrose and Byington
Iowa City, IA 52242
United States
319-335-6814 (Phone)
319-335-9098 (Fax)
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