Chief Justice Warren: The Enigma of Leadership

The Chief Justice of the United States is inevitably the chairman of the judicial collegium.He is not always its leader.He calls the meeting to order; he arranges the agenda-within limits; he directs the work traffic-within limits; and he has certain procedural duties and procedural prerogatives, some of which significantly affect the Court's product.When the Chief Justice is in the majority, he assigns the writing of the opinion of the Court in particular cases.This is a function of great significance.If the Chief Justice assigns the writing of the opinion of the Court to Mr. Justice A, a statement of profound consequence may emerge.If he assigns it to Mr. Justice B, the opinion of the Court may be of limited consequence.Apart from his special functions and administrative powers, the Chief Justice is in a position to be something more than an equal among equals.His position carries enormous prestige.This prestige not only affects the public, the bar and the bench generally, but it also makes it possible for the Chief Justice to influence the output of the Court, to a much greater degree than colleagues of equal or superior personal and professional calibre.