Did You Know...

The Shortest-Tenured Chief Justice

Two hundred and thirty years ago, during the summer of 1795, former Associate Justice John Rutledge learned that Chief Justice John Jay had been elected governor of New York. Anticipating Jay’s resignation from the Supreme Court, Rutledge wrote to President George Washington informing him that should Jay resign, “...I have no Objection to take the place which [Jay] holds, if you think me as fit as any other person...” Washington agreed and ordered a temporary (or “recess”) commission be issued to Rutledge.

In the meantime, unaware of Washington’s actions, Rutledge gave a fiery speech in Charleston, South Carolina, criticizing the recent Jay Treaty and the president. When the commission reached him, he proceeded to Philadelphia to join the Court already in session and was sworn in on August 12, 1795. Despite the political reaction to the speech, Washington nominated Rutledge for a permanent commission but the Senate rejected the nomination by a 14–10 vote on December 15th. Just two weeks later, possibly before news of the Senate’s vote had reached him, Rutledge wrote to Washington that poor health required him to resign. His tenure as Chief Justice had lasted just over four months.