Can the next President designate another Justice as the "Chief Justice" of the Court?

[ThomWV]

It leaves a very bad taste in my mouth to call Roberts the Chief Justice of the United States. Can the next President re designate someone else to be Chief and relegate Roberts to associate status? I doubt that its real important but still, anything we can do to erase the Bush years is a step in the right direction.

[hobbit709]

1. Only if he steps down or croaks.

or is impeached and removed.

[kentuck]

2. Good question ThomWV...

But, traditionally, only when there is a vacancy of the "Chief Justice" is there an appointment of a new Chief Justice. Rehnquist had resigned or had passed away when Roberts was designated. it was unusual in that Scalia or a sitting Justice was not named Chief Justice.

[notadmblnd]

9. Wasn't he one of the whiners in regards to pay?

maybe the new admin could cut benefits and salary, cause a hardship and the little beady eyed creep would resign?

a girl can dream can't she?

[AP]

3. Constitution doesn't say, and I believe the appointment is treated like any other, which means it

ends like others -- when a justice dies in office, chooses to retire, or is impeached by the House of Representatives and convicted by the Senate

[LakeSamish706]

4. As far as I know though, there is nothing to say that they couldn't increase....

the number of Justices from the current 9 to say 11 though...

[tsuki]

5. FDR threatened that. There was a lot of back blow. nt

[floridablue]

6. Congress can do that with a constitutional change but

FDR proved that they won't.

[MonkeyFunk]

8. No, it's not a constitutional change

it's a legislative change. Congress can't change the constitution on its own, anyway.

As to the OP's question, the answer is no. Roberts will serve as long he wants, provided he's not impeached.

[johnfunk]

19. Make it thirteen, not nine or eleven...

Don't think Senators Obama and Clinton aren't already talking to those in Congress who would have to beef up the Supreme Court...

[lonestarnot]

7. Not gona happen.

We're stuck with dat.

[L. Coyote]

10. Can all judicial appointments since Junta Day, 2000.12.12, be reviewed?

Given we know Florida 2000 was stolen, would a judicial finding to that effect impact all Bush appointments to any courts?

[montanacowboy]

11. If it could be proven that the 2000 election was illegal

and fradulent, then everything coming from that poison tree would be thrown out?

just like an illegal search, everything confiscated from it becomes moot, therefore, fruit of the poisoned tree

Just a thought

[DavidDvorkin]

12. The 2000 election occurred when the Electoral College voted

That's the real presidential election, and the EC vote was legal and binding. What happened when the people voted is irrelevant.

[MonkeyFunk]

15. Nope

Bush was legally elected President - by the electoral college, and the results certified by the congress. There's no "undoing" his presidency.

[aquart]

16. Who would throw it out? The Supreme Court?

[Rosemary2205]

13. the only way to remove a Justice is impeachment.

and it won't happen.

[Wizard777]

17. But they have the lowest burden of impeachment. They don't even have to commit a crime.

They can be removed simply for bad behavior.

[Rosemary2205]

18. Oh I'm sure they could be removed for bad breath if congress wanted to

but it isn't going to happen.

[JerseygirlCT]

14. Nope. We're stuck with him.

We just need to be sure that the next people who step down are replaced by a Democrat!

[baldguy]

20. We sould get used to the fact that it will take 50-100 yrs to repair the damage Bush has done.

[suston96]

21. I think the Constitution says "during good behavior".

Section 1

The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.