Sep 03 2005

Chief Justice Rehnquist Is Dead

Published by at 11:24 pm under All General Discussions,Filibuster Showdown

Stunning news tonight on the passing of Chief Justice Rehnquist. One of the longest reigns as Chief Justice is now over.

More on this later in the weekend, but you can find news here

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist died Saturday evening at his home in suburban Virginia, said Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg.

A statement from the spokeswoman said he was surrounded by his three children when he died in Arlington.

“The Chief Justice battled thyroid cancer since being diagnosed last October and continued to perform his dues on the court until a precipitous decline in his health the last couple of days,” she said.

Rehnquist was appointed to the Supreme Court as an associate justice in 1971 by President Nixon and took his seat on Jan. 7, 1982. He was elevated to chief justice by President Reagan in 1986.

His death ends a remarkable 33-year Supreme Court career during which Rehnquist oversaw the court’s conservative shift, presided over an impeachment trial and helped decide a presidential election.

Prayers go out to his family.

Mark Coffey at Decision ’08 comments here.

One response so far

One Response to “Chief Justice Rehnquist Is Dead”

  1. Decision '08 says:

    Chief Justice William Rehnquist Has Died

    Oh, my…as if things weren’t hectic enough…rest in piece, your honor…more details at our friend AJ’s place…in normal circumstances, this would raise a flurry of posts regarding possible replacements, but at the momen…