Warren, Earl (1891-1974), served as chief justice of the United States from 1953 to 1969. He won recognition as a liberal and influential presiding officer during the most revolutionary period in Supreme Court history. In 1954, he wrote the opinion for the unanimous ruling by the Supreme Court outlawing racial segregation in the public schools. He wrote the 1964 decision that states must apportion both houses of their legislatures on the basis of equal population. Also in 1964, he was chairman of a presidential committee that investigated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (see Warren Report ). In 1966, Warren wrote the decision that required police officers to advise suspects of their rights before questioning them.
Warren was born on March 19, 1891, in Los Angeles and received his law degree from the University of California at Berkeley. He served as attorney general of California from 1939 to 1943, and as governor of California from 1943 to 1953. Warren was the Republican nominee for vice president in 1948.
Warren submitted his resignation as chief justice in June 1968, but did not leave office. He remained on the court because a Senate filibuster prevented a vote on the nomination of associate justice Abe Fortas to succeed him as chief justice. Warren later agreed to remain in office until the end of the Supreme Court’s term in mid-1969. He died on July 9, 1974.
