Today in Supreme Court History: September 26, 1986

9/26/1986: Chief Justice Warren Burger retires.

Chief Justice Warren Burger

Comments

[Moderation4ever]

Justice Burger graduated from St. Paul Law school. Our leaders should take a lesson here that it is not the case that only Harvard or Yale graduates are acceptable for SCOTUS Justices. Was he an intellectual giant, no. But I would not suggest that today's Harvard or Yale graduates for all their intellectual power are doing any better job.

[Frank Drackman]

Best "Slice of Life" about the Late/(Not so) Great Judge Burger,
in Nixon's Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman (H.R. stood for "Harold Robbins" but everyone called him "Bob" except the formal Milhouse, who called him "Robert")
Watergate "Tell-All" "The Ends of Power"
Haldeman tells of a Social Event at the Chief Justices Home, multiple glasses of different selections from his extensive Wine Collection were brought to the guests. Burger noticed Haldeman's wife wasn't drinking her wine, when she told him she didn't drink, Burger replied
"Don't Drink?? Don't drink WINE???" then proceeded to polish off all of her glasses, one after another.
Explains a lot.

Frank

[John F. Carr]

On this day in Supreme Court history, SCOTUS blog published a story about Justice Barrett including her comments on explanations related to recusal.

https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/09/justice-barrett-reflects-on-public-scrutiny-swing-votes-and-recusals-at-scotusblog-summit/

[ReaderY]

Ahh, the days when putting the Chief Justice Burger in your mouth was a felony!

[Ridgeway]

mmmm, Burger

[Frank Drackman]

He was the inspiration for the Muppets Sam Eagle.