List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States
Encyclopedia
Law clerk
s have assisted Supreme Court Justices in various capacities since the first one was hired by Justice Horace Gray
in the 1880s. By the traditions and rules that have developed around this procedure today Associate Justices
on the Supreme Court of the United States
have the opportunity to select four law clerks each term of the court. The Chief Justice
is allowed five clerks, though late Chief Justice Rehnquist
usually hired only three.
The following is a still-incomplete table of Supreme Court law clerks, listed by Justice and term. The names of Justices who are active ( Justice Elena Kagan's appointment on August 7, 2010) are in bold.
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
s have assisted Supreme Court Justices in various capacities since the first one was hired by Justice Horace Gray
Horace Gray
Horace Gray was an American jurist who ultimately served on the United States Supreme Court. He was active in public service and a great philanthropist to the City of Boston.-Early life:...
in the 1880s. By the traditions and rules that have developed around this procedure today Associate Justices
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States are the members of the Supreme Court of the United States other than the Chief Justice of the United States...
on the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
have the opportunity to select four law clerks each term of the court. The Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the United States
The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...
is allowed five clerks, though late Chief Justice Rehnquist
William Rehnquist
William Hubbs Rehnquist was an American lawyer, jurist, and political figure who served as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States and later as the 16th Chief Justice of the United States...
usually hired only three.
The following is a still-incomplete table of Supreme Court law clerks, listed by Justice and term. The names of Justices who are active ( Justice Elena Kagan's appointment on August 7, 2010) are in bold.
Chief Justice
Associate Justice (Seat 1)
Associate Justice (Seat 2)
Associate Justice (Seat 3)
Associate Justice (Seat 4)
Associate Justice (Seat 5)
| This seat was established on September 24, 1789 by the Judiciary Act of 1789 Judiciary Act of 1789 The United States Judiciary Act of 1789 was a landmark statute adopted on September 24, 1789 in the first session of the First United States Congress establishing the U.S. federal judiciary... [see 1 Stat. 73]. The seat was abolished upon the death of James Moore Wayne James Moore Wayne James Moore Wayne was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and was a United States Representative from Georgia.-Biography:... on July 5, 1867 per the Judicial Circuits Act Judicial Circuits Act The Judicial Circuits Act of 1866 reorganized the United States circuit courts and provided for the gradual elimination of several seats on the Supreme Court of the United States... [see 14 Stat. 209]. This was before the first law clerk for a Supreme Court Justice was hired. |
|---|
Associate Justice (Seat 6)
Associate Justice (Seat 7)
| This seat was established on March 3, 1837 by the Eighth and Ninth Circuits Act [see 5 Stat. 176]. The seat was abolished over a year after the death of John Catron John Catron John Catron was an American jurist who served as a US Supreme Court justice from 1837 to 1865.-Early life:Little is known of Catron's early life, but he served in the War of 1812 under Andrew Jackson... , the only Justice to occupy it, on July 23, 1866 by the Judicial Circuits Act Judicial Circuits Act The Judicial Circuits Act of 1866 reorganized the United States circuit courts and provided for the gradual elimination of several seats on the Supreme Court of the United States... [see 14 Stat. 209]. This was before the first law clerk for a Supreme Court Justice was hired. |
|---|
Associate Justice (Seat 8)
Associate Justice (Seat 9)
Associate Justice (Seat 10)
External links
- Supreme Court Law Clerks on Underneath Their Robes
- Undue Influence? Ideology and Supreme Court Law Clerks, JURISTJURISTJURIST is an online legal news service hosted by the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, powered by a staff of more than 40 law students working in Pittsburgh and other US locations under the direction of founding Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Professor Bernard Hibbitts, Research Director Jaclyn...
- Courtiers of the Marble Palace - The Rise and Influence of the Supreme Court Law Clerk, Todd C. Peppers.
- The Varying Influence of Clerks, The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, March 6, 2006 - Sorcerers' Apprentices: 100 Years of Law Clerks at the United States Supreme Court, Artemus Ward and David L. Weiden.