Uh oh, John Roberts...watch out.

[allgood33]

How long before Trump decides to make Kavanaugh Chief Justice???I know, I will be called an alarmist but it's really time for being alarmed. Trump is President and the GOP is in control of the Senate.

[hlthe2b]

1. Well, they could try via impeachment but it has never been successfully done before

though it has been tried with associate justices (unsuccessfully, again) in Washington's time and threatened, leading to Abe Fortas' resignation, for personal corruption. Give the House of Representatives led by Pelosi would have to impeach, there is no way...

Only the scant chance of removing him totally exists though (and again with D's holding Congress, not going to happen). There is no path for Trump to simply shove him out as Chief Justice while leaving him on the court.

[Mike Nelson]

2. I'm not sure...

… Trump can make anyone Chief Justice. He can, if Roberts dies or retires. Watching the SC, I don't like the we Chief Justice is selected. They should be picked some other way... seniority, justices vote, Congress vote... it seems dumb that you get to be Chief Justice if you're lucky enough to be in the running when the Chief Justice dies.

[LuvNewcastle]

5. I think that if the Chief Justice dies, the President can

also nominate one of the associate Justices to be CJ. I don't think that the new Justice necessarily has to be the new CJ. I might be wrong about that, but I think that's how it used to be done.

[Mike Nelson]

9. Sounds logical...

… I hope Roberts lasts longer than Trump...

[dsc]

10. yep that is what happened for Rehnquist

and what Johnson tried to do with Fortas in 68 to disastirous results.

[madaboutharry]

3. Trump doesn't have that power unless the seat is vacant.

The president doesn't have the power to demote a Chief Justice. The president can only appoint a Chief Justice if the seat becomes vacant.

[2naSalit]

4. +1

[empedocles]

6. The ghost of Taney/Dred Scott - strikes again.

Robert's has a sense of history - and protecting his place in it.

[underpants]

7. Clarence Thomas or Gorsuch

I think he'd go to one of them first. Yes he would like that he got a Chief Justice too. He'd make a change more because of that than voting records.

[TrishaJ]

8. I think Donald Trump's power to do

anything is quickly dissipating at this point.