The Honorable Warren E. Burger, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1969 to 1986, was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1907. He spent his early years on a farm at Stacy, Minnesota, and later lived in St. Paul. He attended John A. Johnson High School and the University of Minnesota
He graduated from the St. Paul (now Mitchell Hamline) College of Law, magna cum laude, in 1931, and upon graduation, entered private practice with the firm of Boyesen, Otis, Brill & Faricy, and became a full partner in 1933. He also taught at Mitchell Hamline from 1931 to 1945.
In 1953, President Eisenhower appointed him Assistant Attorney General of the United States, Civil Division. In 1956, President Eisenhower appointed him to the United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit. And in May, 1969, President Nixon appointed him Chief Justice of the United States, where he served until 1986, making him one of the longest servicing Chief Justices in history. During his tenure on the Supreme Court, he was instrumental in establishing the American Inns of Court.
Warren Burger retired as Chief Justice in 1986, and took on the position of Chairman of the Committee on the Bicentennial of the Constitution, where he was able to use his energy to help make Americans better acquainted with their Constitution. At age 88 years of age, he published a book about famous Supreme Court cases entitled, It Is So Ordered.
Chief Justice Burger died on June 25, 1995 in the District of Columbia.