The Resume

(February 11, 1833-July 4, 1910)
Served one term in this Illinois House of Representatives
8th Chief Justice of the United States (October 8, 1888-July 4, 1910)
Landmark cases include 'Sparf & Hansen v. United States (1895),' 'Coffin v. U.S. (1895),' 'Plessy v. Ferguson (1898),' 'Lochner v. New York (1905)' and 'Twining v. New Jersey (1908)'

Why he might be annoying:

He was confirmed reluctantly by the Senate, since this was little known about him.
He had no national fame prior to being selected Chief Justice.
He looked like Mark Twain.
His time on the bench saw many infamous decisions enacted and very little social reform.
His court refused to regulate business whenever it could.
One observer described his court as 'a body dominated by fear; fear of populists, of socialists, and communists, of numbers, of minorities and democracy.'
There was a revolving door on his court, with many justices leaving after a short amount of service.
Only one justice (John Marshal Harlan) served with him throughout his Chief Justice career.
In an 8-1 decision, his court created the 'separate but equal' doctrine (Plessy v. Ferguson, 1898).
He wrote poetry.
He was so short (5'1) that his seat had to be elevated and he used a hassock to keep his feet from dangling.

Why he might not be annoying:

He was respected by his colleagues for his talent of dealing with the independent minds of his justices. He prevented many personal feuds on the bench.
His court paid close attention to the property clauses in the U.S. Constitution and ruled with those in mind.
He wrote 840 majority opinions, making him the fifth most productive writer in Supreme Court history.
He presided over the only criminal trial in the Supreme Court's history (the trial of Sheriff Joseph Shippe).
His court was popular with the people (well, except for any politically active minority).
He ruled that income tax was unconstitutional (it was unfortunately reinstated by the 16th amendment).
He died on the fourth of July (1910).

Credit: Captain Howdy

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Attorney
• Captain Howdy's Profiles [Series 3]
• Chief Justices of the United States (Ranked: 8)
• I am a New Englander
• I Died as Chief Justice of the United States (Ranked: 1910)
• I Died in 1910 (Ranked: 77)
• I Died on the Fourth of July (Ranked: 1910)
• I’m Buried at Graceland Cemetery [Chicago]
• Judges
• Little People [5'3 and Shorter] - Male
• Look at Me, I'm Wearing a Bow Tie
• Profiles 15251-15500 (Ranked: 15288)
• Walruses
• We Died on the Same Day (Ranked: 19100704)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 13 Votes: 30.77% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 25 Votes: 52.00% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 23 Votes: 56.52% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 26 Votes: 73.08% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 58 Votes: 60.34% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 90 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 71 Votes: 61.97% Annoying