I have a question for informed freepers. Just how much significance does the Chief Justice have? He doesn't have a greater voice does he? His vote still only counts as one vote. Now, don't they all have to vote on which cases to take? So, just what is the significance of that role, other than having organizational/leadership duties? Does the CJ have more power over which cases the court takes or any other significant power that I don't know about?
The main substantive power the Chief has is the ability to assign opinion-writing to a particular justice in a case. That matters but it's not the biggest deal in the world.
Informally, the position offers the much greater possibility of exerting real leadership over the Court. That's up to the individual Chief as to how they actually do that. Historically, some have been total failures. Two former Chiefs who were very successful in turning their positions into strong leadership of the entire Court were John Marshall and Earl Warren. Whether or not Roberts will be able to do that really comes down to own his personal qualities.
They hold only minor sway. The post is largely of administrative and ceremonial import.
http://www.answers.com/topic/chief-justice-of-the-united-states