1920s chief justice (4)
I believe the answer is:
taft
'1920s chief justice' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for taft that I've seen before include "27th US president, William" , "US president, 1909-13" , "US President before Wilson" , "former President" , "27th President of the United States" .)