Details:

Eight United States Supreme Court Justices autographed typewritten roster, dated 1937, titled "The United States Supreme Court." The document features the original handwritten signatures of eight of the nine members of the Hughes Court, including Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes.

The roster identifies the Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices, with each signature appearing beside the corresponding judicial designation.

The eight signers are:

Charles Evans Hughes (1862–1948) – Chief Justice, 1930–1941. Appointed by President Herbert Hoover, Hughes presided over the Supreme Court during the constitutional controversies surrounding President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. He previously served as Governor of New York, Secretary of State, and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

Willis Van Devanter (1859–1941) – Associate Justice, 1911–1937. Appointed by President William Howard Taft, Van Devanter was a member of the conservative bloc known as the "Four Horsemen," which frequently opposed New Deal legislation.

Louis D. Brandeis (1856–1941) – Associate Justice, 1916–1939. Appointed by President Woodrow Wilson, Brandeis became the first Jewish justice in Supreme Court history and was an influential advocate for civil liberties, privacy rights, and progressive reform.

George Sutherland (1862–1942) – Associate Justice, 1922–1938. Appointed by President Warren G. Harding, Sutherland was another member of the "Four Horsemen" and played an important role in the constitutional debates surrounding the New Deal.

Pierce Butler (1866–1939) – Associate Justice, 1923–1939. Appointed by President Warren G. Harding, Butler was a member of the Court's conservative bloc and frequently opposed the expansion of federal regulatory authority.

Harlan Fiske Stone (1872–1946) – Associate Justice, 1925–1941, and Chief Justice, 1941–1946. Appointed by President Calvin Coolidge, Stone later became Chief Justice under President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was an influential figure in the development of modern constitutional law.

Owen J. Roberts (1875–1955) – Associate Justice, 1930–1945. Appointed by President Herbert Hoover, Roberts became a pivotal figure in the constitutional controversies of 1937, particularly through his votes concerning the constitutionality of New Deal legislation.

Benjamin N. Cardozo (1870–1938) – Associate Justice, 1932–1938. Appointed by President Herbert Hoover, Cardozo was one of the most influential American jurists of the 20th century and a leading figure in the development of modern common law.

The document represents eight of the nine justices serving on the Hughes Court in 1937. The only missing signature is that of Associate Justice James Clark McReynolds (1862–1946), whose designated signature line remains blank.

Of particular historical significance, 1937 was one of the most consequential years in Supreme Court history. President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced his controversial Judicial Procedures Reform Bill, commonly known as the "court-packing plan," proposing to expand the number of Supreme Court justices. The proposal followed a series of decisions striking down important New Deal measures.

That same year, the Court issued several landmark rulings upholding major federal and state regulatory measures, marking an important turning point in American constitutional law. The period became closely associated with the phrase "the switch in time that saved nine."

The roster also dates to the final year of Willis Van Devanter's Supreme Court service. His retirement in June 1937 gave Roosevelt his first opportunity to appoint a Supreme Court justice, resulting in the appointment of Hugo L. Black.

An exceptional assembly of original autographs from eight members of one of the most historically significant Supreme Court compositions of the 20th century, representing a pivotal moment in the relationship between the federal judiciary and the executive branch.

The document measures approximately 7.25 x 9.75 inches. Very good condition with age toning, scattered discoloration, minor handling wear, and faint pencil annotations. The signatures remain clearly legible.

The Hughes Court (1930–1941), led by Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes, presided over the constitutional transformation of the federal government's role in American economic and social life during the Great Depression and New Deal. Its decisions helped define the modern relationship between Congress, the presidency, and the federal judiciary.

Authentication:
Includes a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.

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Reference sku: 11700 1419368-1