From an e-mailer: “The Chief Justice may be first among equals when it comes to the Supreme Court, but his power and discretion is formidable when it comes to the judiciary in general. One case in point, in fact THE case in point, is his authority as head of the Judicial Conference. Unlike most states where the Supreme Court or COLR (Court of Last Resort) in the state is responsible for the judiciary, federally it is the Chief Justice singly who speaks and acts for the Supreme Court and the judiciary in general through the Judicial Conference. Associate Justices are consulted perhaps and named to committees, but rarely at that. In fact, Chief JUDGES of the Circuits hold more power over the judiciary as they are expressly members of the Judicial Conference. And this is more than cheese crackers: the Conference has rule making power granted to it by Congress. And the CJ picks on his own accord the Administrator of the US Courts, sets the branch’s policy, etc. An Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court will be sent to Congress to speak to the Supreme Court’s budget, but never that I’ve heard or read will they be called to speak as to the entire branch. That lies with the CJ and/or the Judicial Conference.”