Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist ’52 (AB ’48, AM ’48) has received many honors, but none perhaps as curious as the bobblehead that mysteriously appeared in his chambers in May. Although only eight inches tall, the ceramic figurine captures his likeness, right down to the four gold stripes on his judicial robes and the solemn expression on his face. One of the doll’s creators, Ross Davies, describes it as being kind of “cute,” while still projecting a stately presence. 

Davies, an assistant professor at George Mason University School of Law, is the editor-in-chief of The Green Bag, a nonprofit humor journal about the law and the legal profession, to which a number of Stanford Law School faculty have contributed. As ofJune, only two prototypes of the doll existed, but Davies plans to produce about 1,000, and send complimentary copies to those readers who already subscribe. 

Rehnquist can be added to the list of dignitaries and celebrities-including President George W Bush, Sammy Sosa, and Ozzy Osbourne-who have been immortalized as bobbleheads. But the Rehnquist doll is unusual for its scholarly attention to detail: its base has a map from Rehnquist’s eloquent 1979 opinion in Leo Sheep v. U.S. regarding 19th-century railroad easements in Wyoming; its hands hold a book marked Volume 529 of the Court’s reports, which includes a notable Rehnquist ruling on a criminal procedure matter that involved a green bag (it held a brick of methamphetamine); and the ChiefJustice is portrayed wearing the tie that he donned to preside over President Bill Clinton’s impeachment proceedings. Davies declines to reveal how the bobblehead suddenly appeared in Rehnquist’s chamber, other than admitting that he felt it would be disrespectful to circulate the doll when Rehnquist had received one. Davies was confident that Rehnquist, who by reputation has a good sense of humor, would appreciate it, and indeed, the Chief Justice sent Davies a note of thanks. 

So is Davies now finished with the doll business? “Stay tuned” was all he would say. After all, there’s another Stanford Law School graduate on the Court who might look quite fetching as a bobblehead.