Category Archives: Justices

History of the Court, Justices, This Day In Supreme Court History

On this day in Supreme Court History—December 10, 1862: Justice Davis takes the oath of office

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On this day in 1862, Justice David Davis took his oath of office. David Davis was born March 9, 1815, in Cecil County, Maryland. He moved to Illinois, where he became a state representative in 1845 and then a State Circuit Judge from 1848 to 1862. During this time he formed a friendship with Abraham … Continue reading On this day in Supreme Court History—December 10, 1862: Justice Davis takes the oath of office →

History of the Court, Justices, This Day In Supreme Court History

On This Day in Supreme Court History—November 28, 1872—Justice Nelson Retired from the Court

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On this day in 1872, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Nelson retired from the Court. Nelson was born on a farm in New York in 1792. After graduating from Middlebury College in 1813, he clerked and eventually became a partner at a law firm. He was also active in the Democratic-Republican Party.  At the age of … Continue reading On This Day in Supreme Court History—November 28, 1872—Justice Nelson Retired from the Court →

History of the Court, Justices, This Day In Supreme Court History

On This Day in Supreme Court History—November 15, 1882

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On this day in 1882, Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter was born in Vienna, Austria. At the age of twelve, he moved to New York’s lower east side with his parents and five siblings. Despite not learning English until he came to the United States, he soon became an exceptional student. He graduated first in … Continue reading On This Day in Supreme Court History—November 15, 1882 →

Justices, News, OT 2018, Weekly Roundup

News Roundup: Week of October 29, 2018

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In addition to the Supreme Court’s latest session of oral arguments and its announcement that it had granted certiorari in some new cases (see here), there was other news as well last week. Term Limits for the Court The Hill’s Lydia Wheeler wrote in an article this week about a new poll conducted by Fix … Continue reading News Roundup: Week of October 29, 2018 →

Justices, News Update

Justice O’Connor’s Second Retirement

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Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor announced this week that “some time ago,” her doctors diagnosed her with “the beginning stages of dementia, probably Alzheimer’s disease.” For this reason, she explained, she is “no longer able to participate in public life.” Justice O’Connor retired from the Court in 2005 to care for her husband … Continue reading Justice O’Connor’s Second Retirement →

Appointments, Justices, Kavanaugh, Politics

An International View of the Supreme Court Confirmation Process

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 This guest post is by Patricia Villa Berger, a J.S.D. candidate at Chicago-Kent College of Law. The debate over Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court captured the nation’s attention. Political analysts and legal experts studied this story from the perspective of party politics, the upcoming midterm elections, gender relations, judicial virtues and temperament, standards … Continue reading An International View of the Supreme Court Confirmation Process →

Appointments, Justices, Politics

Defending the Supreme Court—The Justices Speak Out

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In the wake of the highly contentious confirmation hearing of Justice Kavanaugh, the Justices are speaking out about the importance of the Supreme Court’s independence from politics. At an event last week at the University of Minnesota Law School, Chief Justice John Roberts made a point of saying that he wanted to discuss “events in … Continue reading Defending the Supreme Court—The Justices Speak Out →

Confirmation Hearings, Justices

Roberts Transfers Kavanaugh Ethics Inquiry to the 10th Circuit

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The Supreme Court’s newest member, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, continues to make the news. Within days of his confirmation as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Roberts granted a request to transfer a series of ethics complaints against Kavanaugh to the Tenth Circuit. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals initially received the complaints, … Continue reading Roberts Transfers Kavanaugh Ethics Inquiry to the 10th Circuit →

Appointments, Confirmation Hearings, Justices, Kavanaugh, OT 2018

The Court’s Newest Justice

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Brett Kavanaugh has been an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court for over a week now. Here’s a recap of events since his October 6 Senate confirmation vote. By some measures, Kavanaugh is the least popular nominee to make it to the Court. Kavanaugh’s 50-48 confirmation vote tied Justice Clarence Thomas, who was approved 52-48 … Continue reading The Court’s Newest Justice →

Confirmation Hearings, Justices, This Day In Supreme Court History

On This Day in Supreme Court History—October 6, 1991

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On this day in 1991, National Public Radio first broke the story of Anita Hill’s allegations of sexual harassment against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.   After graduating from Yale Law School, Hill worked as special counsel to Thomas, who was then head of the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education. … Continue reading On This Day in Supreme Court History—October 6, 1991 →