Question about Roberts:

[Dulcinea]

If he is appointed, as it looks like he will be, does he automatically become Chief Justice? Why wouldn't he become an associate justice & someone with more seniority become Chief Justice?

[mongo]

1. Because chimpy gets what chimpy wants

It's not without precedent.

[texpatriot2004]

2. It seems to me that someone who has been on the "High Court"

for awhile should be promoted from within eh. Just plain common sense.

[clydefrand]

3. He should become an associate justice; however, chimpy

gets what he wants. He wants someone in there for 35 years, maybe, who will crack the whip of the repugs. And who would be the one to get that position? He will never allow the more liberal (progressive) justices to be considered. He won't allow Scalia because of the controversy that surrounds him. Stevens is ancient. O'Conner is leaving, Rehnquist is dead. That leaves Kennedy, Breyer, Ginsberg, Souter and Thomas. Would he ever allow the Chief to be a black??? No way! He's just a token.

[Emit]

4. I heard

During an interview with a local talking head and a scholar of the courts, that it is not uncommon for the nominated Chief Justice to have come from outside the system. I haven't verified this, but they had statistics and apparently, historically, there is a high number of Chief Justices that have held that position who had not served on the supreme court previously.

[WI Independent]

5. Apparently not unusual at all...

http://www.supremecourtus.gov/about/members.pdf

It looks like only 3 of 16 have been "promoted" (look for the red star by the termination date of associates). Technically I guess it's 15 since the first Chief Justice had to come from outside.

At any rate, it looks the Chief Justice has come from outside 80% of the time.

[Emit]

6. Yes, Thank you, I now recall the number 15

according to the interview I watched. Thanks for the info.