Opponents, supporters salute Rehnquist

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Groups and government figures across the political spectrum issued statements Sunday mourning the death of William Rehnquist" class="tpstyle">Chief Justice William Rehnquist.

Rehnquist died Sunday at age 80 after a gallant fight with thyroid cancer, working almost until the end.

Though a strong conservative, the chief justice was not an ideologue, and many who mourned saw in him those elements that supported their own points of view.

Michael Greco, president of the American Bar Association said in part: "His passionate defense of an independent judiciary, which he appropriately called the 'crown jewel' of our system of government, and his strong advocacy for adequate resources to support the vital role of the judiciary in our republic, reflect the noblest principles that guide our nation."

In contrast, Richard Garnett, former Rehnquist clerk and now professor of law at the University of Notre Dame, said: "During his tenure, and in a wide variety of contexts, he tirelessly proposed a clear and straightforward vision of the Constitution and of judges' limited role in resolving our moral and policy disagreements."

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said, "He served our nation with distinction and dignity."

People for the American Way, a liberal group which often opposed him, spoke of the respect Rehnquist engendered. Group president Brian McCabe said, "From his core conservative values of preserving states' rights to punishing criminals, Rehnquist will be remembered as a chief justice who earned the personal respect and admiration of his colleagues from all ends of the ideological spectrum."