Chief Justice Dies at age of 80.

On Saturday, September 3rd, 2005, our nation lost its 16th Supreme Court Justice, William Hubbs Rehnquist. He passed away in his home in Arlington, Virginia after losing his long fought battle with thyroid cancer. He presided over some of the some of the most controversial cases in recent American history including, issues pertaining to legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes, issues on gay marriage, and even the use of the word “God” in the pledge of allegiance.
Although US Supreme Court Justices are by design required to become A-political, Rehnquist was noted to head one of the most conservative courts in times to be remembered; with five of the nine justices notably voting right winged and inevitably controlling the majority.
In his life he served his country well, according to find law.com, Rehnquist served in the United States Army Air Corps in this country and overseas from 1943 to 1946. He was discharged with the rank of sergeant and then appointed Assistant Attorney General in the office of legal counsel, by President Nixon in January 1969. In 1971, Nixon nominated Rehnquist to the U.S. Supreme Court as an Associate Justice; Rehnquist took his seat in 1972. In 1986, Ronald Reagan elevated him to the position of Chief Justice. Justice Rehnquist became a widower on October 17th, 1991 with the death of his wife, Natalie Cornell. They are survived by their three children, James, Janet, and Nancy. William presided over the court from 1986 to date, 19 years, making him the fourth-longest-serving Chief Justice after Melville Weston Fuller, Roger B. Taney and John Marshall.
Rehnquist’s death couldn’t have come at a worse time. With the turmoil that arrived both with hurricane Katrina and Sandra Day O’Conner’s retirement, the country could be left in shambles. In an attempt to rectify the situation President George W. Bush, nominated DC Circuit Court Judge John Roberts for Mrs. O’Conners position as a Associate Justice on July 19th, and then after Rehnquist’s death on September 5th as Chief Justice. With a Republican majority in both the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Presidency it seems likely we’ll be calling our next Chief Justice, Judge Roberts.
In regard to the late justice I recite U.S. Senator John Cornyn’s remarks for this imposing historical figure: “For the past three decades, William Rehnquist did not simply serve on the bench. He truly loved and revered the Court, as only a devoted scholar and student of that great institution could – his dedication was unrivaled. He leaves a powerful presence in the law, one that will echo through future generations.”