Today in Supreme Court History: July 26, 1892

7/26/1892: Justice George Shiras Jr. takes oath.

Justice George Shiras

Comments

[Queen Amalthea]

Got his job in large part because he was related to the Secretary of State. The kind of thing that makes up in part what's called 'white privilege' that many whites don't think much about is the extended and inherited networks that are generally more favorable to whites.

[Dan Schiavetta]

Indeed! The truth is, many Supreme Court justices were mediocrities who got appointed because of connections. They were all white and male, but because they were on the Court, we see their portraits, read their opinions, and each one provided a cottage industry to law professors. Imagine having your (or your clerk's) writings being the subject of long articles in bound volumes. All white, male.

[Bob from Ohio]

Now, sorta non-white mediocrities like Sotomajor can get appointed too!

[Dan Schiavetta]

Actually Clarence Thomas is the model for that.

[Bob from Ohio]

Being related to a politician is not "white" privilege anymore.

Obama's daughter got a job with Weinstein's production company because her dad was president. Black privilege?

[Queen Amalthea]

Lol, surely as a general matter in US history black connections=white ones.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Bob from Ohio offers the comments one would expect to encounter at a White, male, right-wing blog (with scant, fading academic veneer).