Today in Supreme Court History: September 17, 1787

9/17/1787: The Constitution is signed.

The Constitution

Happy Constitution Day!

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[F.D. Wolf]

Twelve states appointed 70 delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention. (Rhode Island did not send any.) 55 delegates actually showed up to the convention, some having declined their appointments or being unable to attend for various reasons. 41 made it to the end, and 38 of those signed the Constitution.

Four signers of the Constitution would go on to serve on the Supreme Court: William Paterson of New Jersey, James Wilson of Pennsylvania, John Rutledge of South Carolina, and John Blair of Virginia. Connecticut delegate and future Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth left the convention early for business reasons, but would write in support of ratification. Maryland appointed furure Justice Gabriel Duvall a delegate to the convention, but he declined the appointment. Likewise, Robert Harrison another Maryland appointee who declined his appointment, would be nominated to the Supreme Court by President Washington and confirmed by the Senate, but would decline the appointment for health reasons. (Harrison would pass away a little more than six months after declining his appointment to the Supreme Court).