First Among Equals: The Supreme Court in American Life (Book Review‪)‬

Kenneth W. Starr New York: Warner Books, 2002, 320 pp. Much has changed since John Jay's tenure as the nation's first Chief Justice. Not only did the Supreme Court's sparse caseload provide ample time for Jay to conduct overseas diplomatic missions, including negotiating what became known as Jay's Treaty, but Jay had few qualms about resigning his position as Chief Justice to become Governor of New York. After serving two terms, Jay was nominated by President John Adams to once again serve as Chief Justice. This time he declined, citing poor health, but he also pointedly informed Adams: "I left the bench perfectly convinced that under a system so defective [the Court] would not obtain the Energy, Weight and Dignity which are essential to its affording due support to the national Gover[ment]; nor acquire the public Confidence and Respect, which as the last Resort of Justice of the nation, it should possess."