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Federal Judicial History

The Center conducts research and produces resources on the history of the judicial branch of the federal government.  These resources include compilations of historical data on the courts, information about judges and judicial administration, as well as publications on federal judicial history. The Center also maintains a biographical directory of Article III judges from 1789 to the present, engages in outreach and education on federal judicial history, and works to promote the preservation of the history of the judicial branch.

Timelines of Federal Judicial History

Twitter Feed (@FedJudicialHist)

  • The Senate rejected FDR's nomination of Floyd Roberts to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia #OTD in 1939; example of "senatorial courtesy"; senators deferred to home-state Democratic Senators Harry Byrd and Carter Glass, who opposed nominee https://t.co/A8CcjK7CfJ
    2 months 1 week ago
  • President Franklin D. Roosevelt #FDR proposed expanding #SCOTUS by adding one justice for each justice over age 70 (up to a maximum of 6) #OTD in 1937; widely criticized as "court-packing" plan https://t.co/BcmP7j49iD https://t.co/81IDAdNOVI
    2 months 2 weeks ago
  • The Supreme Court of the United States first convened #OTD in 1790 at the Merchants Exchange Building in #NYC; Chief Justice John Jay was forced to adjourn immediately, as too few justices were able to attend #SCOTUS https://t.co/3KvVAvnTJP
    2 months 2 weeks ago
  • Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., formerly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, took the oath of office for #SCOTUS #OTD in 2006 https://t.co/VjOo9f1h10 https://t.co/cZIWuEETuq
    2 months 2 weeks ago
  • #SCOTUS decided Buckley v. Valeo #OTD in 1976; challenge to Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971; Ct held that limits on individual campaign contributions did not violate 1st Am., but limits on campaign expenditures, including from candidate's own funds, were unconstitutional https://t.co/6N0r9jw1qE
    2 months 2 weeks ago

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