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Warren Burger

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U.S. Chief Justice

The Resume

    (September 17, 1907-June 25, 1995)
    Served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (1956-1969)
    15th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1969-1986)
    Important court cases include 'New York Times vs. United States (1971),' 'United States vs. Nixon (1972),' 'Roe vs. Wade (1973),' 'Bakke vs. University of California Board of Regents (1976)' and 'Texas vs. Johnson (1989)'
    Member of the Republican Party

Why he might be annoying:

    His first name is the same as the last name of his predecessor, Earl Warren.
    He was appointed to the Chief Justice position by Richard Nixon.
    He supported one of Minnesota governor Harold E. Stassen's many unsuccessful pursuits of the Republican presidential nomination (1948).
    He helped reinstate the death penalty after it had briefly been abolished (1976).
    He ruled in support of abortion as a privacy issue in the 'Roe vs. Wade' case, which unleashed a fevered national debate that will never, ever end.
    He aggressively defended a law which jailed a man for life for writing a fraudulent check in the amount of $100, believing it was not cruel and unusual punishment (Solem vs. Helm, 1983).
    He did not have much influence on the bench, instead deciding to focus on the tedious day-to-day operations of the nation's legal system.
    His court supported affirmative action, which some believe discriminates against other races.
    Some of his opponents argued that his Chief Justice tenor trivialized the office.
    He donated his papers to the College of William and Mary, but they won't be open to the public until 2026 (what's the friggen point?!).

Why he might not be annoying:

    While working with a crew building the Robert Street Bridge in St. Paul, he suggested a net be installed to catch anyone who fell (he was rebuffed by managers of the project).
    His legal career started slowly, but he gradually gained more power.
    Even though he was appointed by Nixon, he ruled against his attempt to hold on to tapes relating to the Watergate scandal, prompting his resignation.
    Despite pressure by other Republicans to turn over the previous court's decisions and again segregates schools, he continued the Supreme Court's support of desegregation.
    His court ruled in several cases in favor of women's rights.
    His written opinions were always straightforward and non controversial.
    He argued for liberal ideas with a conservative approach.
    He maintained the First Amendment when he ruled that flag burning was 'expressive conduct' because it was an attempt to 'convey a particularized message.'
    Despite his shortcomings as a leader on the bench, he proved to be an excellent manager of the legal system by speeding up the legal process.
    He was the longest serving Chief Justice in the 20th century.
    He retired from the bench instead of rotting away on it until he died like other Chief Justices (1986).

Credit: Captain Howdy


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 7 Votes: 14.29% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 57 Votes: 49.12% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 17 Votes: 5.88% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 20 Votes: 45.00% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 24 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 25 Votes: 72.00% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 42 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 37 Votes: 64.86% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 90 Votes: 45.56% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 115 Votes: 45.22% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 170 Votes: 60.59% Annoying