The Rutledge Court

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John Rutledge.jpg
SCOTUS
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Cases by term
Judgeships
Posts: 9
Judges: 9
Judges
Chief: John Roberts
Active: Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh, John Roberts, Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas



The Rutledge Court was the shortest Chief Justice era in United States history. John Rutledge served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States during 1795, starting with a nomination during the senatorial recess. The nomination was rejected when the Senate came back into session in December because Rutledge had previously condemned the Jay Treaty, saying it was too favorable to the British.[1][2]

According to The Supreme Court Historical Society, this nomination and subsequent rejection was the first time the Senate did not approve a notable nomination by a president.[1]

Associate justices

The Justices in this table served during the Rutledge Court.

Tenure Justice Nominated By
09/29/1789 - 08/21/1798 James Wilson George Washington
09/30/1789 - 10/25/1795 John Blair George Washington
02/10/1790 - 10/20/1799 James Iredell George Washington
09/27/1789 - 09/13/1810 William Cushing George Washington
03/04/1793 - 09/09/1806 William Paterson George Washington

Major cases

Jurisdiction in cases on the high seas (1795)

The case was originally heard by the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania. The Court ruled that a district court cannot have jurisdiction against a foreign privateer in a case of libel for damages in the capture of an American vessel as a prize when it is out of United States jurisdiction. In this case, the Supreme Court determined that it would grant a writ of prohibition to district judges who did not have jurisdiction in such cases.[3]

Retaining citizenship (1795)

In this case, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the United States Circuit Court for the District of South Carolina. The Court found that a U.S. citizen retains his or her citizenship even if a person left the United States and renounced his or her citizenship. Because Wilson decided this case on the Circuit Court, he did not participate in this decision.[4]

About the court

See also: Supreme Court of the United States


The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the country and leads the judicial branch of the federal government. It is often referred to by the acronym SCOTUS.[5]

The Supreme Court consists of nine justices: the Chief Justice of the United States and eight Associate Justices. The justices are nominated by the president and confirmed with the "advice and consent" of the United States Senate per Article II of the United States Constitution. As federal judges, the justices serve during "good behavior," which means that justices have tenure for life unless they are removed by impeachment and subsequent conviction.[6]

On January 27, 2022, Justice Stephen Breyer officially announced he would retire at the start of the court's summer recess.[7][8] Breyer assumed senior status on June 30, 2022.[9] Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed to fill the vacancy by the Senate in a 53-47 vote on April 7, 2022.[10] Click here to read more.

The Supreme Court is the only court established by the United States Constitution (in Article III); all other federal courts are created by Congress.

The Supreme Court meets in Washington, D.C., in the United States Supreme Court building. The Supreme Court's yearly term begins on the first Monday in October and lasts until the first Monday in October the following year. The court generally releases the majority of its decisions in mid-June.[6]

Number of seats on the Supreme Court over time

See also: History of the Supreme Court
Number of Justices Set by Change
Chief Justice + 5 Associate Justices Judiciary Act of 1789
Chief Justice + 4 Associate Justices Judiciary Act of 1801 (later repealed)
-1
Chief Justice + 6 Associate Justices Seventh Circuit Act of 1807
+2
Chief Justice + 8 Associate Justices Eighth and Ninth Circuits Act of 1837
+2
Chief Justice + 9 Associate Justices Tenth Circuit Act of 1863
+1
Chief Justice + 6 Associate Justices Judicial Circuits Act of 1866
-3
Chief Justice + 8 Associate Justices Judiciary Act of 1869
+2


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Supreme Court History, The Rutledge Court
  2. ↑ United States Senate, Chief Justice Rejected
  3. ↑ Justia.com, Cases: 3 U.S. 121
  4. ↑ Cornell Law, Talbot v. Janson
  5. ↑ The New York Times, "On Language' Potus and Flotus," October 12, 1997
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 SupremeCourt.gov, "A Brief Overview of the Supreme Court," accessed April 20, 2015
  7. ↑ United States Supreme Court, "Letter to President," January 27, 2022
  8. ↑ YouTube, "President Biden Delivers Remarks on the Retirement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer," January 27, 2022
  9. ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Breyer, Stephen Gerald," accessed April 13, 2023
  10. ↑ Congress.gov, "PN1783 — Ketanji Brown Jackson — Supreme Court of the United States," accessed April 7, 2022
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History of the Supreme Court
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