John Houseman's character is never identified by name, but historically, the Chief Justice at that time (1961) was Earl Warren.
The film cast includes five Oscar winners: Henry Fonda, José Ferrer, John Houseman, Dean Jagger and Edmund H. North; and one Oscar nominee: Sam Jaffe
Henry Fonda played Barney Greenwald on stage in "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial" in 1954, the same year that José Ferrer played the same role in Die Caine war ihr Schicksal (1954).
While Henry Fonda had the longest and most distinguished film career of those appearing in GIDEON'S TRUMPET, his sole Academy Award came after those awarded to Dean Jagger, José Ferrer, and John Houseman. Edmund H. North also won an Academy Award, but his was for screenwriting.