Chapter 1
Quirky traditions and unusual habits of the bench
Chapter 2
Unbelievable backgrounds of the justices
Chapter 3
Trailblazers and historic firsts
Chapter 4
Oddities, off-duty hobbies, and strange cases
Ch 2 · Unbelievable backgrounds of the justices
schopenhauer Byron Whizzer White
Before he wore the black robes, he was leading the NFL!
schopenhauer College dropout John Marshall became America's most influential Chief Justice.
schopenhauer Before the modern court, some early judges settled political and personal disputes with deadly weapons.
Fun Fact
Taft's giant bathtub: President and Chief Justice William Howard Taft was so large that a custom four-person bathtub had to be installed in the White House.
schopenhauer William Howard Taft is the only person to serve as both US President and Chief Justice.
Glossary
autodidact (noun)
A person who is self-taught. James F. Byrnes, appointed in 1941, was an autodidact who left school at age fourteen.
A person who is self-taught. James F. Byrnes, appointed in 1941, was an autodidact who left school at age fourteen.
BETA
schopenhauer Match bizarre trivia to Supreme Court justices to discover the quirky side of legal history.
Quiz
How many weeks of formal law school lectures did Chief Justice John Marshall attend?
schopenhauer William Howard Taft's journey from the White House to the Supreme Court
Quiz
Which early Supreme Court Chief Justice ran a spy ring during the American Revolutionary War?
Quiz
Which Supreme Court Justice was a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy and led the NFL in rushing?
Quiz
What landmark Supreme Court case did Chief Justice John Marshall decide in 1803?
Quiz
Who is the only person in US history to serve as both US President and Supreme Court Chief Justice?