“Rehnquist thought [the court] had gone way too far, and in many dissents was working to cut it back. He succeeded, and he began to succeed even before he became chief justice. He gradually cut back federal-court supervision of state prosecutions. [The death penalty ban] was reversed. And the limits upon prosecutors and police were rationalized and relaxed.”
Charles Fried
“I think John Roberts always was the front-runner for the Rehnquist seat. I would guess that Roberts has been the choice for some time. The only curve was that O'Connor was the person (to retire), not Rehnquist.”
Ralph Neas
“Politically or ideologically oriented evaluations of Chief Justice Rehnquist should not overlook what a successful and popular chief justice he was within the Court as the justices' presiding officer. The contrast between Rehnquist's undeniably happy Court and that of his predecessor, Warren E. Burger, could not have been greater.”
David Garrow
“It's too early to tell. Some people believe that Roberts may be similar to Rehnquist in his jurisprudence, although that's not at all clear yet.”
Carl Tobias
“That's where Rehnquist was at his most vocal, ... He was always willing to fight for an independent judiciary.”
“Welcome to the pit [and] the great hunters who have been out to tack the pelt of Bill Rehnquist on the wall of the den.”
Alan K. Simpson
“That's when I realized that somebody like Rehnquist was absolutely ideal.”
John Dean
