Louis Brandeis, First Jewish Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, inspires me on many different levels. He was the nationally known “people’s attorney,” from Boston and was one of the country’s most celebrated progressive reformers. He was also one of Woodrow Wilson’s most influential advisors and political confidants since his campaign for presidency in 1912. Following Wilson’s victory, Brandeis played a major role in helping to shape the President’s “New Freedom,” economic policies and programs. President Wilson had initially hoped to appoint Brandeis to his cabinet. However, much to his disappointment, anti-Semitic opposition, organized and financed by leaders of Boston’s banking and legal establishment, had prevented him
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On January 2, 1916, Justice Joseph Lamar suddenly died which created an unexpected vacancy on the Supreme Court for President Wilson to fill. Twenty-Six days later although it was not the favorable decision among Wilson’s advisors since he would be facing a tough reelection in 8 months, he made the controversial decision to appoint Louis Brandeis as a Supreme Court Justice. Many of staff on Wilson’s administration who didn’t know until it was publicly announced were appalled. Once Brandeis’ nomination was announced, he precipitated in a four-month Senate confirmation battle, which was the most contentious fight over confirmation of a Supreme Court Justice in American history until 1987. Many conservative senators were concerned that since Brandeis was only 59 years old he might be serving for more than 20 years, which really concerned republicans. The then-present president of Harvard university, which was Brandeis’ Alma Mater, claimed Brandeis was “unscrupulous,” and lacked “judicial temperament and capacity,” but when asked for evidence, he admitted he had none. Following that claim almost everyone one of the faculty members at Harvard Law School publicly endorsed him. After a heated four-month senate battle, on June 1, 1916, Louis Brandeis was approved as a Supreme Court
On January 2, 1916, Justice Joseph Lamar suddenly died which created an unexpected vacancy on the Supreme Court for President Wilson to fill. Twenty-Six days later although it was not the favorable decision among Wilson’s advisors since he would be facing a tough reelection in 8 months, he made the controversial decision to appoint Louis Brandeis as a Supreme Court Justice. Many of staff on Wilson’s administration who didn’t know until it was publicly announced were appalled. Once Brandeis’ nomination was announced, he precipitated in a four-month Senate confirmation battle, which was the most contentious fight over confirmation of a Supreme Court Justice in American history until 1987. Many conservative senators were concerned that since Brandeis was only 59 years old he might be serving for more than 20 years, which really concerned republicans. The then-present president of Harvard university, which was Brandeis’ Alma Mater, claimed Brandeis was “unscrupulous,” and lacked “judicial temperament and capacity,” but when asked for evidence, he admitted he had none. Following that claim almost everyone one of the faculty members at Harvard Law School publicly endorsed him. After a heated four-month senate battle, on June 1, 1916, Louis Brandeis was approved as a Supreme Court