Question: who is the first chief justice of the supreme court
Answer: Chief Justice Date confirmed ( Vote ) Tenure Tenure length Appointed by Prior position John Jay ( 1745 -- 1829 ) September 26 , 1789 ( Acclamation ) October 19 , 1789 -- June 29 , 1795 ( Resigned ) 7003207900000000000 ♠ 5 years , 253 days George Washington Acting United States Secretary of State ( 1789 -- 1790 ) John Rutledge ( 1739 -- 1800 ) December 15 , 1795 ( 10 -- 14 ) August 12 , 1795 -- December 28 , 1795 ( Resigned , nomination having been rejected ) 7002138000000000000 ♠ 138 days Chief Justice of the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas and Sessions ( 1791 -- 1795 ) Associate Justice of the S