Always seems that when one Chief Justice leaves the bench, the next is appointed to replace him.
It's a fancy title to one of the nine seats. There's no reason for it to have extra power over the other eight. If it was the senior justice, that might make sense. But Roberts replaced Rehnquist and whoever replaces Roberts becomes the new Chief Justice. I don't think there's a mechanism to promote one of the other 8 to be the new Chief Justice. Or maybe there is an no one bothered to use it.
I believe that the President can simply nominate any of them to be Chief Justice, but it has to be approved by the Senate, so it's easier to just make the newly appointed justice Chief Justice so that there is just one hearing instead of two
How are Chief Justices decided? Can't Trump appoint Thomas the Chief Justice?
Always seems that when one Chief Justice leaves the bench, the next is appointed to replace him.
It's a fancy title to one of the nine seats. There's no reason for it to have extra power over the other eight. If it was the senior justice, that might make sense. But Roberts replaced Rehnquist and whoever replaces Roberts becomes the new Chief Justice. I don't think there's a mechanism to promote one of the other 8 to be the new Chief Justice. Or maybe there is an no one bothered to use it.
I believe that the President can simply nominate any of them to be Chief Justice, but it has to be approved by the Senate, so it's easier to just make the newly appointed justice Chief Justice so that there is just one hearing instead of two