Today in Supreme Court History: October 8, 1888

10/8/1888: Chief Justice Melville Fuller takes the judicial oath.

Chief Justice Melville Fuller

Comments

[JoeFromtheBronx]

Chief Justice Mustache. Waite and Hughes had beards.

Fuller was a cheerful colleague and decent administrator. He is less known for his jurisprudence. He did have a successful appellate practice. He was a loyal Democrat.

He served for over twenty years and presided over various important cases involving taxes, racial justice, and economic regulation. He dissented (with Harlan) in the birthright citizenship case. He also dissented in a key Insular Case.