Original sentence: Additionally, Cushing's February 2 letter explicitly states his return of the commission for chief justice, and his desire to retain his seat as associate justice.As Cushing was the most senior associate justice present on those dates, he would have been expected to preside over the proceedings.The fact that he continued on the Court as an associate justice for years afterward lends more weight to the assertion that Cushing declined.This latter explanation is more logical, in that had Cushing accepted the office of chief justice and then resigned, he would have had to leave the court entirely; accepting the chief justice seat would have implicitly required Cushing to resign his place as an associate justice.William Cushing (March 1, 1732 – September 13, 1810) was an early associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, from its inception to his death
Edited sentence: Additionally, Cushing's February 2 letter explicitly states his return of the commission for chief justice, and his desire to retain his seat as Associate Justice.As Cushing was the most senior Associate Justice present on those dates, he would have been expected to preside over the proceedings.The fact that he continued on the Court as an Associate Justice for years afterward lends more weight to the assertion that Cushing declined.This latter explanation is more logical, in that had Cushing accepted the office of chief justice and then resigned, he would have had to leave the court entirely; accepting the chief justice seat would have implicitly required Cushing to resign his place as an Associate Justice.William Cushing (March 1, 1732 – September 13, 1810) was an early Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, from its inception to his death