Tiffany Haynes

Chief Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist died on Sept. 3.

Rehnquist was 80 years old and had served as chief justice for 19 years.

He had been battling thyroid cancer for several months, and had undergone a tracheotomy and chemotherapy treatments.

Rehnquist worked until he was no longer able.

“I want to put to rest the speculation and unfounded rumors of my imminent retirement. I am not about to announce my retirement. I will continue to perform my duties as chief justice as long as my health permits,” Rehnquist said in a written statement.

Rehnquist was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1972 by President Nixon. He was later appointed chief justice in 1986 by President Reagan.

Rehnquist was a judicial restraint judge; he followed the Constitution very closely. He was often alone in his conservative principles.

Rehnquist attended Stanford University where, he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Later, he went to Stanford Law School where he graduated number one in his class (according to CNN.com)

Early in Rehnquist’s career he heard the Roe v. Wade case ,which led to a women’s right to an abortion under the privacy act. He was one of two who disagreed with the verdict.

Rehnquist is one of two chief justices that have presided over an impeachment (President Clinton’s). John Roberts will be replacing Rehnquist as Chief Supreme Court Justice.

CNN.com was used as a research source