What did William Rehnquist do to the Supreme Court?

As Chief Justice, Rehnquist presided over the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. Rehnquist wrote the majority opinions in United States v. Lopez (1995) and United States v. Morrison (2000), holding in both cases that Congress had exceeded its power under the Commerce Clause.

What was William Rehnquist known for?

Supreme Court of the United States. William Hubbs Rehnquist is remembered as one of the most successful Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States and is frequently mentioned in the same breath as his inspiration, Chief Justice John Marshall. Rehnquist was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 1, 1924.

What happened in the Rehnquist Court?

Landmark cases of the Rehnquist Court include: Texas v. Johnson (1989): In a 5–4 decision written by Justice Brennan, the Court struck down a state law that prevented the burning of the American flag. The court held that the act of burning the flag is protected speech under the First Amendment.

Is the Rehnquist court activist?

The Court plainly was more “activist” than its predecessor courts in its willingness to invalidate federal statutes, and to do so in a surprising range of issue areas. It also, however, invalidated notably fewer state statutes than did those earlier courts, and overturned slightly fewer precedents.

Who appointed William Rehnquist?

Ronald ReaganSeptember 25, 1986
Richard NixonDecember 15, 1971
William Rehnquist/Appointer

Is justice Rehnquist still alive?

September 3, 2005William Rehnquist / Date of death

Who became chief justice after Rehnquist died?

The only chief justice older than Rehnquist was Roger Taney, who presided over the high court in the mid-1800s until his death at87. Rehnquist was also closing in on the record for longest-serving justice.

Is Rehnquist liberal?

Rehnquist took his seat on the court in January 1972. Rehnquist’s reputation as a justice was based on his encyclopaedic knowledge of constitutional law, his conservative voting record, and his leadership of the court as it moved from generally liberal to mostly conservative.