Today in Supreme Court History: November 18, 1811

11/18/1811: Justice Gabriel Duvall takes judicial oath. Professor David P. Currie said that an "impartial examination of Duvall's performance reveals to even the uninitiated observer that he achieved an enviable standard of insignificance against which all other justices must be measured."

Justice Gabriel Duvall

 

Comments

[Frank Drackman]

He's more significant than Professor David P. Currie.
Ok, not fair, lets see, the Professor was Hah-Vud Law Review, clerked for 2 years then taught Constitutional law for 45 years.
It's like if I taught Medicine my whole life after 2 years of Practice. (37 years and I'm still practicing, one day I'll get it right)

Frank

[ReaderY]

And as has become a customary ritual this time of year, Mima Queen and child make their annual rise from the grave to lodge their objection.

[Lee Moore]

“Insignificant”is high praise for a judge, even when it is intended as an insult.

Way better than the significance earned by pulling stuff out of the judicial fundament.

[JoeFromtheBronx]

Multiple justices historically were "insignificant," including multiple justices who served with John Marshall.

These justices have moments, as Duvall did when he provided some recognition of the interests of freedom of non-white people.

He had special experience in the case he dissented in. Not only was he involved in many freedom suits (which underline that blacks had rights whites respected in antebellum times), but he was involved in freedom suits for the specific family involved.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_v._Hepburn

As with many early justices who are now mostly forgotten, Duvall had an impressive pre-SCOTUS resume.

[Stuart]

"impartial examination of Duvall's performance reveals to even the uninitiated observer that he achieved an enviable standard of insignificance against which all other justices must be measured."

I wonder if there are any Law Professors who have achieved an enviable standard of insignificance against which all other Professors must be measured?

Any suggestions?