Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, who had led the U.S. Supreme Court for 12 years and shaped its conservative direction, passed away on September 3, 2005. His death marked the end of an era that saw the Court affirm key rulings on abortion, affirmative action, and the death penalty, while also expanding corporate rights. The loss prompted reflections on his legacy and the future of the Court’s ideological balance, as President George W. Bush prepared to nominate a successor who would continue to influence American jurisprudence for decades.
9/3/2005: Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist dies. The post Today in Supreme Court History: September 3, 2005 appeared first on Reason.com.
