Who is John Runyan from The Pelican Brief and what is their importance?

John Runyan is the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Runyan is a tough conservative, Republican-appointed, and hated by most minorities. He occupies an office on the main floor of the Supreme Court building, which is more ornate and larger than colleagues. He prefers to be called "Chief." He tries unsuccessfully to get justices Rosenberg and Jensen to accept FBI protection like the other brethren. When they are assassinated, he plans the funeral and provisionally accepts the idea of the Supreme Court clerks reviewing upcoming cases for a motive.