Today in Supreme Court History: October 13, 1890

10/13/1890: Justice Samuel Miller dies.

Comments

[JoeFromtheBronx]

Samuel Miller served on the Supreme Court for 28 years.

He studied medicine at Transylvania University and received a degree in 1838. That's in Kentucky, not Dracula-land.

Miller was first a doctor & then studied lawyer. He developed anti-slavery convictions, eventually freeing his slaves. Seems on brand with a middle name of "Freeman."

He moved to Iowa, where he ran a failed campaign for governor. A symbol of how justices used to be more partisan politicians they are now.

Miller was a Lincoln appointee. He wrote over 600 opinions -- the late 19th Century had lots of opinions, and they didn't have a bunch of clerks to help. His most famous would be the majority opinion in the Slaughterhouse Cases, which stripped the Privileges or Immunities Clause of much meaning.

Watson v. Jones, a case regarding the role of secular courts adjudicating ecclesiastical disputes, was one of the other opinions that had some staying power. Miller was a leading voice on his court with such greats as Stephen Miller and John M. Harlan.