Question: who is the chief justice of the united states now in 2017
Answer: Burger ( 1907 -- 1995 ) June 9 , 1969 ( 74 -- 3 ) 15 ! June 23 , 1969 -- September 26 , 1986 ( Retired ) 05 ! 7003630400000000000 ♠ 17 years , 95 days Richard Nixon Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ( 1956 -- 1969 ) 16 William Rehnquist ( 1924 -- 2005 ) September 17 , 1986 ( 65 -- 33 ) 16 ! September 26 , 1986 -- September 3 , 2005 ( Died ) 04 ! 7003691700000000000 ♠ 18 years , 342 days Ronald Reagan Associate Justice of the Supreme Court ( 1972 -- 1986 ) 17 John Roberts ( born 1955 ) September 29 , 2005 ( 78 -- 22 ) 17 ! September 29 , 2005 -- Incumbent 08 ! 7003440600000000000 ♠ 12 years , 23 days George W.