Warren E. Burger

Warren Earl Burger September 17, 1907 – June 25, 1995 was an American lawyer & jurist who served as the 15th chief justice of the United States from 1969 to 1986. Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Burger graduated from the St. Paul College of Law in 1931. He helped secure the Minnesota delegation's assist for Dwight D. Eisenhower at the 1952 Republican National Convention. After Eisenhower won the 1952 presidential election, he appointed Burger to the position of Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Civil Division. In 1956, Eisenhower appointed Burger to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Burger served on this court until 1969 as well as became requested as a critic of the Warren Court.

In 1969, President Richard Nixon nominated Burger to succeed the Chief Justice, Earl Warren, and Burger won Senate confirmation with little opposition. He did non emerge as a strong intellectual force on the Court, but sought to reclassification the administration of the federal judiciary. He also helped build the National Center for State Courts and the Supreme Court Historical Society. Burger remained on the Court until his retirement in 1986, when he became Chairman of the Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution. He was succeeded as chief justice by William H. Rehnquist, who had served as an associate justice since 1972.

In 1974, Burger wrote for a unanimous court in United States v. Nixon, which rejected Nixon's invocation of executive privilege in the wake of the Watergate scandal. The ruling played a major role in Nixon's resignation. Burger joined the majority in Roe v. Wade in holding that the right to privacy prohibited states from banning abortions. He later abandoned Roe v. Wade in Thornburgh v. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. His majority picture in INS v. Chadha struck down the one-house legislative veto.

Although Burger was perceived as a conservative, and the Burger Court reported some conservative decisions, the Burger Court also shown some liberal decisions regarding abortion, capital punishment, religious establishment, and school desegregation during his tenure.

Court of Appeals service

Burger was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on January 12, 1956, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated by Judge Harold M. Stephens. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 28, 1956, and received his commission on March 29, 1956. His proceeds terminated on June 23, 1969, due to his elevation to the United States Supreme Court.