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Justice Peter Daniel

On this date in 1841, Peter Daniel was nominated by President Martin Van Buren as an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court.  Daniel was born in Stafford County, Virginia to a old, established family.  He attended the College of New Jersey for one year before “reading the law” with Edmund Randolph, who was […]

Roscoe Conkling

On this date in 1882, President Chester A. Arthur nominated Roscoe Conkling to serve as an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court for the seat being vacated by Justice Ward Hunt. Conkling was born on October 30, 1829 in Albany, NY to U.S. Congressman and future federal judge. After “reading the law” in […]

Justice George Shiras, Jr.

On this date in 1903, Justice George Shiras, Jr. retired as an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court. Shiras was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 26, 1832. He studied at Ohio University and Yale, where he graduated in 1853. He briefly studied at Yale Law School before leaving to “read the law” […]

Justice Charles Whittaker

On this date in 1901, Justice Charles Whittaker was born near Troy, Kansas.  Growing up on a farm near Troy, Whittaker attended a one room school and dropped out in the 9th grade to to sell skunk pelts.  By 1920, Whittaker had saved up enough to move to Kansas City to pursue his dream of […]

On this date in 1954, Justice Adolph M. Christianson passed away at age 76. Christianson was born in Brunmundalen, Norway in 1877. With his parents he immigrated to the United States in 1882 and settled in Polk County, Minnesota. While mostly self-educated, Christianson did study at the Law Department of the University of Tennessee. He […]

Justice Alfred Wallin (N.D. Supreme Court)

On this date in 1836, Justice Alfred Wallin was born in Gilbertsville, New York. Raised in Michigan and later Chicago, Wallin followed in the familty business of leather tannery. However, to further his prospects, Wallin entered Elgin Academy in 1857 where he began his study of law. Ultimately, Wallin graduated the University of Michigan law […]

Judge Jeremiah S. Black

On this date in 1861, Jeremiah S. Black was nominated by President James Buchanan for the position of Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court. Born on January 10, 1810 near Stony Creek, Pennsylvania, he studied law and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1830. He immediately began his career as deputy attorney […]

Alexander Wolcott

On this date in 1811, Alexander Wolcott was nominated by President James Madison for the position of Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court. Born on September 15, 1758 in Windsor, Connecticut, Wolcott was educated at Yale College and admitted to the Conneticut Bar after reading the law. He entered in private practice in […]