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'''Earl Warren,''' (1891-1974) was an American judge, best known for his role as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1953 to 1969.
'''Earl Warren,''' (1891-1974) was an [[United States|American]] judge, best known for his role as Chief Justice of the [[Supreme Court]] from 1953 to 1969.
==Early Professional Life==
==Early Professional Life==
Prior to serving on the Court, Warren was a prosecutor and politician. As governor of [[California]], Warren had supervised the Japanese internments discussed in the famous ''Korematsu v. U.S.'' case, now reviled as an example of America at its worst. President [[Dwight Eisenhower]] appointed Warren to the [[Supreme Court]] as a political payoff.
Prior to serving on the Court, Warren was a prosecutor and politician. As governor of [[California]], Warren had supervised the Japanese internments discussed in the famous ''Korematsu v. U.S.'' case, now reviled as an example of America at its worst. President [[Dwight Eisenhower]] appointed Warren to the [[Supreme Court]] as a political favor.
===Brown v. Board of Education===
===Brown v. Board of Education===
Warren acceded to the position of [[Chief Justice]] while ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' was being reargued at the behest of associate Justice [[Frankfurter]], who ordered re-argument as a stalling tactic, to allow the Justice to gather a unanimous consensus around a liberal ''Brown'' opinion that would outlaw segregation. Associate Justice [[Vinson]] was one such stumbling block.
Warren acceded to the position of [[Chief Justice]] while ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' was being reargued at the behest of associate Justice [[Frankfurter]], who ordered re-argument as a stalling tactic, to allow the Justice to gather a unanimous consensus around a liberal ''Brown'' opinion that would outlaw [[segregation]]. Associate Justice [[Vinson]] was one such stumbling block.
Warren convened a meeting of the associate justices, and presented to them the simple argument that the only reason to sustain segregation was an honest belief in the inferiority of [[African American]]s. Warren further submitted that the Court must overrule ''Plessy'' to maintain its legitimacy as an institution of liberty, and it must do so unanimously to avoid massive Southern resistance. He began to build a unanimous opinion.
Warren convened a meeting of the associate justices, and presented to them the simple argument that the only reason to sustain segregation was an honest belief in the inferiority of [[African American]]s. Warren further submitted that the Court must overrule ''Plessy'' to maintain its legitimacy as an institution of liberty, and it must do so unanimously to avoid massive Southern resistance. He began to build a unanimous opinion.
Although many justices were convinced, Warren spent some time after this famous speech convincing two holdouts for segregation to sign onto the opinion. The first (Justice Vinson) died during this initiative. The second finally decided to drop his dissent to what was by then a moderate opinion backed by the remaining six justices.
Although many justices were convinced, Warren spent some time after this famous speech convincing two holdouts for segregation to sign onto the opinion. The first holdout, Justice Vinson, died during this initiative. The second finally decided to drop his dissent to what was by then a moderate opinion backed by the remaining six justices.
Liberals consider Warren's final opinion a political masterwork, not just for his political gamesmanship, but for his general writing, making use of dubious social science research to draw legal conclusions, and laying the groundwork for forced racial busing.
Liberals consider Warren's final opinion a political masterwork, not just for his political gamesmanship, but for his general writing, making use of dubious social science research to draw legal conclusions, and laying the groundwork for forced racial busing.
===The Warren Court, Continued===
===The Warren Court, Continued===
Chief Justice Warren authored a number of other cases, such as the case defining American citizens' [[Miranda]] rights. He was a judicial supremacist, and succeeded in asserting court power beyond what had previously been accepted.
Chief Justice Warren authored a number of other cases, such as the case defining American citizens' [[Miranda]] rights. He was a judicial supremacist, and succeeded in asserting court power beyond what had previously been accepted.
==The Warren Commission==
Earl Warren was appointed to head up the Warren Commission, which established a connection between the [[Watergate]] burglary and President Nixon's re-election campaign. Investigative coverage by the [[New York Times]] fueled public outrage about the event. The coverage dramatically increased the profile of the crime and consequent political stakes. Tips by an anonymous source they would later identify only by the code name ''Deep Throat,'' led reporters to uncover information suggesting that knowledge of the break-in and attempts to cover it up led deep into the Justice Department and even into the White House itself. Rather than ending with the trial and conviction of the burglars, the investigations grew broader. Warren received a congressional medal of honor for his efforts. On April 30, 1973, Nixon was forced to ask for the resignation of two of his most influential aides, H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, both of whom would soon be indicted and ultimately go to prison. He also fired White House Counsel John Dean, who had just testified before the Senate and would go on to become the key witness against Nixon himself.
==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
Brest, Levinson, et al, "Processes of Constitutional Decisionmaking, Cases & Materials, 5th Ed.," pp 898-950.
Brest, Levinson, et al, "Processes of Constitutional Decisionmaking, Cases & Materials, 5th Ed.," pp 898-950.
[[Category:Biographies]]