Warren E. Burger served as the 15th Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1969 to 1986. During his tenure, he presided over a number of important cases and played a significant role in shaping American law and policy. He was known for his conservative views and his commitment to upholding the Constitution, and his tenure on the Court was marked by a number of controversies and debates.
Early Life and Education
Warren Earl Burger was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1907. His father was a railway cargo inspector, and his mother was a homemaker. Burger attended the St. Paul public schools and later the University of Minnesota, where he studied history and political science. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1931 and then went on to study law at the same institution.
In 1935, Burger joined a local law firm and began his practice as a lawyer. He took on a variety of cases, including criminal defense work, but he also took a keen interest in politics and government. In 1953, he was appointed as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice.
Career as a Jurist
In 1967, Burger was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where he served for two years. In 1969, President Richard Nixon nominated him to become the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, succeeding Earl Warren, who had held the position since 1953.
Burger was confirmed by the Senate and was sworn in as Chief Justice on June 23, 1969. At the time, he was considered a relatively unknown jurist, but he quickly established himself as a solid conservative on the Court. He believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution, and he was often critical of activist judges who sought to interpret the law in ways that went beyond the text of the Constitution.
During his tenure on the Court, Burger presided over a number of important cases, including Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide, and United States v. Nixon, in which the Court ruled that President Nixon had to turn over his secret tapes to the Watergate investigating committee.
Burger also established a number of important precedents during his tenure on the Court. For example, he developed the concept of “executive privilege,” which gave the President of the United States the right to keep certain communications and information confidential. This became particularly relevant during the Watergate scandal, when Nixon sought to use executive privilege to avoid turning over his tapes to investigators.
In addition, Burger wrote several influential opinions on criminal law and procedure. He believed in the importance of strict adherence to legal procedures, and he was a staunch advocate of the rights of accused persons. For example, in the case of United States v. Wade, he established the rule that police lineups must be conducted in a way that does not suggest to witnesses which person the police believe is guilty.
Burger’s Legacy
Warren Burger retired from the Supreme Court in 1986, and he died in 1995 at the age of 87. Although he was sometimes criticized by liberals for his conservative views and his opposition to activist interpretations of the Constitution, he is widely regarded as one of the most important jurists of the 20th century.
Burger’s legacy on the Court was marked by his commitment to upholding the Constitution and his willingness to challenge established legal assumptions. He was particularly influential in the area of criminal law and procedure, where his opinions helped to establish important precedents that continue to shape American legal practice today.
In addition, Burger was known for his efforts to promote judicial independence and to maintain a clear distinction between the executive and judicial branches of government. He was a strong advocate of the separation of powers, and he believed that each branch of government should exercise its own functions without undue interference from the others.
Finally, Burger’s tenure on the Court was marked by his commitment to public service and his willingness to work hard to ensure that justice was done. He was known for his honesty, his integrity, and his dedication to the rule of law, and his legacy continues to inspire generations of lawyers and judges today.
Conclusion
Warren Burger was a pivotal figure in American legal history. As Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, he presided over some of the most important cases of the 20th century and established several key precedents in the areas of criminal law and procedure. He was known for his strict interpretation of the Constitution, his commitment to judicial independence, and his advocacy for the separation of powers. Although he was not without his critics, his legacy continues to inspire and influence legal practice today, and he is widely regarded as one of the most important jurists of the modern era.
Warren Burger’s background tells of a life of humble beginnings. He was one of seven children, played sports in high school, and joined the Union Army. Unlike some other Chief Justices before him, Warren Burger did not come from a wealthy background. He worked selling Mutual Life Insurance while he attended night school at the The University of Minnesota.
After college, he enrolled in law school and took a job at a firm now known as Moore, Costello & Hart. Warren Burger was Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1969-1986. Since this was a time where conservatives were the majority of the population, many expected that the Supreme Court under the ruling of Warren Burger would overturn the liberal rulings of Chief Officers before him. However, a year into his term as Chief justice it was obvious that the Burger Court had no intentions of doing so.
In fact, many of the liberalists’ beliefs were extended. One of the major rulings under the Burger Court was the Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education ruling in 1971. This was one of the most important cases to target methods of desegregation in public schools. In an earlier ruling by the Warren The court, it was declared that school segregation was unconstitutional. School buses were integrated in order to promote racial desegregation in schools. Another major ruling by the Burger Court was the unanimous ruling against the Nixon administration’s desire to deprive the need for a search warrant and the requirements of the Fourth Amendment regarding cases of domestic surveillance.
The Nixon administration wanted the free will to search and seize anything they felt was
warranted. This was a huge case involving the Watergate Scandal. In this case of the United States v. U.S District Court, the Burger Court system ruled against the Nixon administration. Many other cases ruled under the Burger administration were considered landmark cases. In the Furman v. Georgia case regarding the death penalty, the Court ruled that the implication of the death penalty under the conditions of the case served as cruel and unusual punishment violating the Constitution.
The Court’s decision forced states to rethink the nature of the death penalty, not allowing it to be used in a discriminatory manner. Warren Burger kept his conservative thoughts
towards the matter of gay rights, opposing approval. Chief Justice Warren Burger also regulated the business practices of the Government, emphasizing the practices of checks and balances between the branches of the Government. Many people argue that Burger was a Chief Justice who did not deliver verdicts under his own accord, usually changing his opinion to fit the casted votes of the majority.
Some cases were held up in deliberation for twenty months because of Burger’s
procrastination. However, under his ruling, many laws were passed to further equality.
