<P> John Jay resigned as Chief Justice on June 29 , 1795 , after being elected Governor of New York . The subsequent nomination of John Rutledge as Chief Justice was rejected by a vote of 10 -- 14 on December 15 , 1795 . Rutledge 's strident and vocal opposition to the Jay Treaty may have been the main reason for his rejection . Because he had been a recess appointment , Rutledge served as Chief Justice for one term . Washington nominated Associate Justice William Cushing to replace him as Chief Justice , but Cushing declined the role . Washington then successfully appointed Oliver Ellsworth to serve as the next Chief Justice . </P>
<P> John Jay resigned as Chief Justice on June 29 , 1795 , after being elected Governor of New York . The subsequent nomination of John Rutledge as Chief Justice was rejected by a vote of 10 -- 14 on December 15 , 1795 . Rutledge 's strident and vocal opposition to the Jay Treaty may have been the main reason for his rejection . Because he had been a recess appointment , Rutledge served as Chief Justice for one term . Washington nominated Associate Justice William Cushing to replace him as Chief Justice , but Cushing declined the role . Washington then successfully appointed Oliver Ellsworth to serve as the next Chief Justice . </P>
who was the first rejected supreme court nomination
who was the first rejected supreme court nomination
John Rutledge
John Rutledge