When seeking to fill a vacant position of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the President has two options. The president can appoint a new Supreme Court Justice, or the choice can be made to elevate one of the Associate Judges on the Supreme Court to the Position. Technically, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is known as the Chief Justice of the United States.
The position represents the head of the United States Federal Court system, which comprised the judicial branch of the federal government of the United States. The Chief Justice of the United States is the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States.
The Chief Justice is the highest judicial official in the country. He acts as the Chief Administrative Officer for the Federal Courts. He is responsible for appointing the director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court serves as the spokesperson of the judicial branch.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court leads the business of the Supreme Court, and presides over all arguments in the Court.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is responsible for determining who will write the official opinion of the Court. The Chief Justice sets the agenda of the Court.
If the President is facing impeachment, the Chief Justice presides over the trial. The Chief Justice is responsible for administering the oath of office to the President of the United States of America at his inauguration. The first Chief Justice was John Jay, and there have been sixteen Chief Justices since.