	Introduction

The appointment of the Chief Justice of the United States is an infrequent event of majorsignificance in American politics. The appointment of each Justice to the Supreme Court issignificant because of the enormous judicial power that the Court exercises as the highest appellatecourt in the federal judiciary. The Chief Justice, like each of the Court's other eight Justices, castsone vote when the Court rules on cases. Chief Justice appointments occur infrequently, with only 16 individuals having served in thatposition since 1789 -- an average tenure of 13Â½ years per Chief Justice. Under any circumstances, it will command the attention of Congress,especially the Senate, which votes on whether to confirm judicial nominations. Even more attentionis expected in the current political environment, in light of the controversy that has recentlysurrounded the judicial appointment process and the importance that the President and Senators ofboth parties have attached to upcoming Supreme Court appointments. In thiscapacity, the Chief Justice:
presides at the private conference during which the Court decides which lowercourt decisions to accept from the large number received on appeal;
presides over the public sessions, or hearings of cases, that come before theCourt;
chairs the private conference at which cases are discussed among the ninemembers of the Court and eventually decided by a vote of the Justices; and
assigns, when in the majority, the writing of the Court's opinion on the caseeither to himself or to one of the Associate Justices. The Chief Justice, too, is the head of the federal judicial branch of government. The modern-day process for appointing a Chief Justice is the same as that for appointing AssociateJustices to the Court. A Chief Justice appointment may be made only when there is, or isscheduled to be, a vacancy in the position of Chief Justice; the President may not use the occasionof an Associate Justice vacancy to appoint someone to replace a sitting Chief Justice. Then the committee votes onwhether to report the nomination to the Senate and, if so, whether to report it favorably, unfavorably,or without recommendation. A vacancy could occur, as well, upon the expiration of the term of a Justice whoreceived a recess appointment from the President. President's Selection of a Nominee

Criteria for Selecting a Nominee. The precisecriteria used in selecting a Supreme Court nominee will vary from President to President. (76) 
The Role of Senate Advice. Historically,Presidents have varied in the degree to which they have sought or used advice from Senators inselecting Supreme Court nominees. (85)
Selecting from Within or Outside the Court. Some Senators, however, also will be concerned with the nominee's judicialphilosophy or views on constitutional issues and how, in their view, the appointment might affectthe Court's future direction on major legal and constitutional questions. Nominees for Chief Justice of the United States, 1789 to the Present: Dates of Nomination, FinalAction bythe Senate or President, Judicial Oath and Termination of Service, and Ages at Times of Appointment and Termination of Service 
Sources : William D. Bader and Roy M. Mersky , The First One Hundred Justices, (Buffalo: William S. Hein & Co., Inc., 2004 ); Artemus Ward, Deciding to Leave, (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2003); Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States ofAmerica (various volumes); The Supreme Court of the United States (an undated pamphlet published by the United States Supreme Court); and MaevaMarcus and James R. Perry, editors, The Documentary History of the Supreme Court of the United States, 1789-1800 (New York: Columbia UniversityPress, 1985).
The lifetime appointment of the Chief Justice of the United States is an event of majorsignificance in American politics because of the enormous power that the Supreme Court exercisesas the highest appellate court in the federal judiciary. The Chief Justice, like each of the Court'sother eight Justices, casts one vote when the Court rules on cases. However, the Chief Justice is also"first among equals" and exercises a unique leadership role as the presiding officer of the Court, asthe manager of the Court's overall operations, and as head of the federal judicial branch ofgovernment. There is no formal list of qualifications for the job; the Constitution's only mention ofthe Chief Justice is as presiding officer of the Senate during an impeachment trial of the President. Chief Justice appointments occur infrequently, with only 16 individuals having served in thatposition since 1789 -- an average tenure of 13Â½ years per Chief Justice.
The process for appointing a Chief Justice is the same as for appointing Associate Justicesand typically involves a sharing of responsibilities between the President, who nominates theJustices, and the Senate, which provides "advice and consent." (Exceptions to this have been rareinstances when the President has made temporary "recess appointments" to the Court, which do notrequire the Senate's approval.) Vacancies on the Court can occur as a result of death, retirement, orresignation of a Justice. Chief Justice nominees may be selected from the ranks of sitting AssociateJustices (as three of the 16 Chief Justices were) or from outside the Court, with each approach, fromthe perspective of the President, having certain advantages and disadvantages. The criteria thatPresidents use in selecting a Supreme Court nominee vary, but typically involve policy and politicalconsiderations as well as a desire to select a person with outstanding professional qualifications andunquestioned integrity. Leadership qualities may also be important when the Chief Justice positionis involved. Presidents have also varied in the degree to which they have sought or used advice fromSenators in selecting Supreme Court nominees.
As part of Senate consideration, the Judiciary Committee holds hearings on the nominee andvotes on whether to report the nomination favorably, unfavorably, or without recommendation. Regardless of the outcome of that vote, the reporting of a Supreme Court nomination sends it to thefull Senate for debate and a vote. Like the President, Senators may evaluate the nominee by suchstandards as professional excellence, integrity, and leadership qualities, but may also (again, as thePresident is free to do) focus on the nominee's judicial philosophy, views on constitutional issues,or how they believe the appointment might affect the Court's future direction on major legal andconstitutional issues.
Under any circumstances, the appointment of a new Chief Justice will command the attentionof Congress, especially the Senate, which votes on whether to confirm judicial nominations. Evenmore attention could be expected concerning such an event in the current political environment, inlight of the controversy that has recently surrounded the judicial appointment process and theimportance the President and Senators of both parties have attached to upcoming Supreme Courtappointments.