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What authority allowed Justice Rehnquist to sit by designation on the federal district court?

The record From Justice Rehnquist's 1984 civil trial does not provide an answer.

Josh Blackman | 8.21.2026 8:00 AM

In a future column, I will propose that the Supreme Court Justices should resume circuit riding. Whatever grievances eighteenth century justices raised about riding on horseback and boat have no relevance today. The Justices routinely travel around the globe in cushy airplanes and black SUVs. There will be more work. Deal with it.

A likely rejoinder, of course, is that the seven of the Justices are not equipped to be trial court judges. (I exclude Justices Sotomayor and Jackson, who both would be at home in a district court). Indeed, Justice Rehnquist famously presided over a........

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