Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Chief justice \Chief" jus"tice\
   The presiding justice, or principal judge, of a court.

   {Lord Chief Justice of England}, The presiding judge of the
      Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice. The
      highest judicial officer of the realm is the Lord High
      Chancellor.

   {Chief Justice of the United States}, the presiding judge of
      the Supreme Court, and Highest judicial officer of the
      republic.