Today in Supreme Court History: December 12, 1910

12/12/1910: Chief Justice Edward Douglass White confirmed.

Comments

[Blackstone]

Well, it's nice to know that patience finally paid off! It makes today's insidious Republicans look like pushover pussies.
Plus these are the guys who made a former GOP president chief justice of the Supreme Court. Scary, isn't it?

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Today's Republicans are pussies. They have been taking it from their betters, and whimpering about it like kittens who fancy themselves tigers, for more than a half-century.

[Jerry B.]

12/12/2020: Chief Justice Edward Douglass White confirmed.

Considering that Justice White died May 19, 1921, that's quite a feat. I mean, I've heard of the dead voting, but...

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

This requires an assumption that Prof. Blackman corrected a published error after another's mention without acknowledging the revision, which would be highly unprofessional, but after careful examination of relevant professional affiliations we are prepared to rely on that assumption:

Today's Noble Prize for achievement in identifying error in Today In Supreme Court History is awarded to Jerry B.

(more right-wing Nobility)

[F.D. Wolf]

White was the first sitting associate justice to be nominated for the position of chief justice. He had been appointed an Associate Justice by Democrat Grover Cleveland but elevated to Chief Justice by Republican William Howard Taft. The Democrats would reciprocate in 1941 when President Franklin Roosevelt would elevate Associate Justice Harlan Stone, a Calvin Coolidge appointee, to Chief Justice.

[F.D. Wolf]

Damn it! We need an "edit" or "delete" function. I immediately realized I made a mistake.

In 1796, President Washington nominated Associate Justice William Cushing to replace outgoing Chief Justice John Rutledge. Cushing was confirmed, but declined the position, continuing to serve as an associate justice.

[David Nieporent]

I guess the better parking spot wasn't a compelling perk in 1796.

[F.D. Wolf]

After Cushing declined the job of Chief Justice, President Washington appointed Oliver Ellsworth who would resign in 1800. To replace him, President Adams nominated John Jay, who had been the original Chief Justice before resigning in 1795. Jay was confirmed, but, like Cushing before him, declined the position. Adams would then appoint John Marshall.

One wonders how history might be different if Jay had accepted the job, and there had never been a Chief Justice John Marshall.

[Cal Cetín]

Over at the Mises Institute, they're fapping furiously to this comment.