Best Chief Justice

Earl Warren served as the 14th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1953 to 1969. His tenure marked a significant shift in judicial interpretation, particularly regarding civil rights and liberties. He oversaw several landmark cases that redefined constitutional law, notably Brown v. Board of Edu...

Charles Evans Hughes was an American statesman and lawyer who served as the 11th Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court from 1930 to 1941, after a presidential run.

William Rehnquist was an American lawyer who served as the 16th Chief Justice of the United States from 1986 to 2005, leading the court's conservative shift.

The only American to serve as both President (1909–1913) and Chief Justice (1921–1930), appointed to lead the Court by President Warren Harding.

Harlan Fiske Stone was an American lawyer who served as the 12th Chief Justice of the United States from 1941 to 1946, having previously served as an Associate Justice.

17th Chief Justice of the United States, appointed by George W. Bush in 2005, known for upholding the Affordable Care Act in NFIB v. Sebelius (2012).

Edward Douglass White was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 9th Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court from 1910 to 1921, establishing the rule of reason.

Melville Fuller was an American lawyer who served as the 8th Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court from 1888 to 1910, presiding over landmark cases like Plessy v. Ferguson.

First Chief Justice of the United States (1789–1795), co-author of the Federalist Papers, and negotiator of Jay's Treaty with Britain in 1794.

Associate Justice elevated to Chief Justice in 1910—the first such promotion in Court history—appointed originally by Cleveland and serving until his death in 1921.

Warren Burger was an American lawyer who served as the 15th Chief Justice of the United States from 1969 to 1986, presiding over a generally conservative era of the court.

Chief Justice (1864–1873) and former Lincoln Treasury Secretary who designed the national banking system and presided over Andrew Johnson's Senate impeachment trial in 1868.

Chief Justice (1874–1888) appointed by Grant who presided over Reconstruction-era rulings in the Slaughterhouse Cases and Civil Rights Cases that narrowed the Fourteenth Amendment.

Chief Justice (1946–1953) appointed by Truman who presided over Cold War–era national security cases, including upholding the Smith Act convictions, and died in office.

Fifth Chief Justice (1836–1864) appointed by Andrew Jackson, whose Dred Scott v. Sandford ruling (1857) declared that African Americans held no citizenship rights.