Evening star., 1922-09-10
PERSONNEL OF SUPREME
COURT COLORS- HISTORY
Decisions Important in Nations Develop
ment; 10 Chief Justices and 63
Associates i'm l33 Years.

to that he served as federal Judge
and as Secretary of War in the cabi-
net Of President Roosevelt.
Three other members of the court
served as cabinet officers at one time
in their careers-Justice McKenna,
who was Attorney General in the
cabinet Of President Mckinley; JUS
tice Day. who was Secretary Of State
in the Mckinley cabinet, a position
which he resigned to accept the chair
manship of the commission which
negotiated the treaty Of peace with
Spain at the close of the Spanish
American war; and Justice Mercy
nolds, who served as Attorney Cen
eral in the cabinet of President
Wilson.
Holmes Civil War Veteran.
One member of the court, Justice
oliver Wendell Holmes, saw military
service in the civil war. He was three
times wounded, in different battles
and concluded his service with
brevet rank of colonel. Justice
Holmes Is the senior Of the court in
point Of age. He is eighty-one years
old. Justice McKenna. however. runs
him a close second in this respect, for
he Is only two years younger. The
latter has served on the Supreme
Court for about twenty-four years
and Justice Holmes for twenty years.
Long service on the supreme bench
has been the order rather than the
exception since the organization OF
the court, in 1889. In all that time,
about 1873 years, there have been but
ten Chief Justices. including Chief
Justice Taft This number includes
also John Rutledge, who was named
Chief Jusice during recess OF the
Senate in 1875, but was not confirmed
by that body. One Chief Justice. John
Marshall, served for thirty-four years.
the longest term of service ever at
tanned, and eQualed only by the serv-
ice of Justice Story Of Massachusetts,
who was on the bench from 1911 10
1s45. Justice Harlan Of Kentucky
stood third, with thirty three years
to his credit.
The total number>of associate JUS
tices appointed to the supreme oencn
and confirmed Is sixty three, lnciuo-
ing Justice Sutherland, and this al
though the membership of the court
is nine and has been since the early
days when it was only six. Few
resirnations have taken place ana
few have retired. A notable exception
Is that of Secretary Hughes OF the
State Department. who gave up MS
Mace on the bench when he was nom-
mated by the republican party for
President in 1916. Former Associate
Justice Clarke. who has just resigned,
ia said in some quarters to have an
owe TO the democratic presidential
nomination.
Decisions Highly Respected.
The Supreme Court has stood hign
in the opinion of the American people
since its creation. Notwithstanolns
the fact that it has been assailed ire
ouently by minorities and by leaders
here and there, the opinions OF the
supreme Court have been respected.
and its decisions have been enforced
without exception. Laws nave oeen
changed frequently to meet oo1ec-
tions raised by the court The Con-
stitution of the United States has been
amended to meet decisions that laws
enacted by Congress were not con-
s+itutional. as in the case OF the in
come tax law.
The Supreme Court has acted not
onlv al a. guardian of the rights OF
the individual but also as a guardian
Of the rights and powers OF tho states
against the federal government anu
vice versa It has played an impor-
tant part in the Strengthening OF tho
federal government. usually called
cantralization Of power. Particularly
4. This true in its decisions with re-
gard to the powers of the federal gov
arnment, through Congress, to deal
with interstate and foreign commerce.
Rut important as has been Its part
In the history of the country in the
mast the Supreme Court is likely to
NAV a no less important role IN the
wears now at hand. 1t has been called
upon to interpret the laws OF Con-
press and of the states with regard
to their constitutionality. In the In
dustrial situation now confronting
the country the Supreme Court WILL
he asked to settle many knotty ques-
tions arising under the laws. 1t may
be expected that both sides to these
controversies at times will take ex-
cention to the decisions Of the court.
And. furthermore, there will be and
thera arc mecbers of Congress today
who assert that the Supreme Court
should not have the power to inter-
pret laws enacted by the Congress.
and that what Congress declared as
law should stand. But this is doc
trine that SO far has not had much
support.