SCOTUS History Condensed into 12 Months

A short history of the Supreme Court, as if it had unfolded in one year.

I. Winter

The Court was quiet for a few weeks. Then, on January 21st, John Marshall became Chief Justice. Within a week, the Marshall Court gave us Marbury v. Madison. Almost a month later, we got McCulloch v. Maryland. As February drew to a close, the Court decided Gibbons v. Ogden. These cases expanded the power of the federal judiciary and the federal government in general.

The month of March was something of an interregnum for the Court. Around March 15th, Justice Marshall died, and Roger Taney took his place. The cases decided late in March have been forgotten, except maybe The Amistad and Prigg v. Pennsylvania.

II. Spring

Not until mid-April did the Court decided Dred Scott v. Sandford. A terrible war ensued for the remainder of the month.

For roughly thirteen days, the Chief Justice was Salmon Chase: a Republican appointed by President Lincoln. This two-week period was busy. The Court took pains to temper the passions of radical Congresses that tried to fundamentally reshape the American system of governance.