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I think the answer you want is the Chief Justice, but this only applies when the Chief Justice votes with the majority. Otherwise, the senior Associate Justice among those voting with the majority decides who writes the opinion of the Court.For more information, see Related Questions, below.
Chief Justice Warren Burger
The Chief US Supreme Justice at the time of the Dred Scott decision was Justice Taney. He wrote the majority decision that proclaimed that Blacks in the USA could never be citizens. It was a 7 to 2 decision.
most junior justice on the Court. most senior associate justice in the majority. chief justice, as in other cases. most senior associate justice in the minority. solicitor general.
The US President nominates the Chief Justice, who may already be an Associate Justice or may be someone outside the Supreme Court. The Senate must confirm the nomination by a simple majority vote.
The Chief Justice's decision on a case carries the same weight as the other justices. And yes, it must be a majority opinion for the ruling to stand, but the Chief Justice does not have to agree.
The "opinion of the Court" is synonymous with the Court's decision. The Opinion gives the verdict and explains the reasoning behind the decision reached.The privilege of writing the official opinion falls to the most senior justice in the majority group, or to the Chief Justice if he voted with the majority; this person may choose to write the opinion, or may assign the task to another member of the majority.If the justices who voted against the majority wish to issue a unified dissenting opinion, they decide amongst themselves who will author the opinion, then the others, if in agreement, will "join" the opinion.Individual justices may write their own opinions, regardless of whether they agree with the majority. Justices may also "join" or sign any other written opinion they agree with. This generally strengthens the verdict.All published opinions except for Per Curiam decisions may be used as precedent in future litigation.For more information about Supreme Court opinions, see Related Links, below.
The chief justice of the Supreme Court is the highest-ranking member of the court and holds a significant role in its operations. The chief justice is responsible for presiding over oral arguments, assigning cases to different justices, and writing the majority opinion in important cases. Additionally, the chief justice has administrative duties, such as overseeing the federal judiciary and representing the court in interactions with other branches of government.
Chief Justice John Marshall, in his opinion in Marbury v. Madison, 5 US (Cranch 1) 137 (1803).
Laws & ruling.
Laws & ruling.
Early in Chief Justice Marshall's tenure on the Supreme Court, the majority of votes were unanimous; the other justices usually voted with Marshall, who then wrote the opinion of the court himself.Marshall's influence weakened in the waning days of his career, as more Democratic-Republicans were appointed to succeed Federalist justices.