Roger Brooke Taney
Roger Taney (1777-1864) was the fifth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He joined the court in 1836 after being nominated by President Andrew Jackson. He served until his death on October 12, 1864. Prior to joining the court, he was the United States Secretary of the Treasury.[1]
Taney was one of seven justices nominated to the Supreme Court by President Jackson, though only six were confirmed.[2] For more about Taney's tenure on the court, see The Taney Court.
Education
Taney attended Dickinson College for his undergraduate degree and received his legal education by reading law.[1]
Professional career
- 1833-1834: United States Secretary of the Treasury
- 1831-1833: United States Attorney General
- 1831: Acting United States Secretary of War
- 1827-1831: Attorney General of Maryland
- 1823-1831: Attorney in private practice, Baltimore, Maryland
- 1801-1823: Attorney in private practice, Frederick, Maryland
- 1818-1823: Director, Frederick County Bank
- 1816-1821: Member, Maryland State Senate
- 1810-1815: Director, State Bank Branch, Frederick, Maryland
- 1799-1800: Member, Maryland State Legislature[1]
Judicial nominations and appointments
Supreme Court of the United States
Taney was nominated by President Andrew Jackson on December 28, 1835. He was confirmed by the Senate on March 15, 1836, and received commission that same day. He served until his death on October 12, 1864.[1] He was succeeded to this post by Chief Justice Salmon Portland Chase.
Noteworthy cases
Blacks cannot be citizens (1857)
Born into slavery in the early 19th century, Dred Scott traveled with his owner Dr. John Emerson as he worked in military camps. Some of this travel left Scott living in free states. On April 6, 1846, after Emerson had died, the Scotts filed for their freedom on the grounds that they had lived in free states.[3] On March 6, 1857, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Sandford in a 7-2 vote. Author and Chief Justice, Roger B. Taney, wrote that Negroes could not be United States citizens. Therefore, Scott could not bring his suit in front of the Supreme Court. The Court also ruled the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. As a result of the decision, blacks were not afforded government or court protection, and Congress could no longer ban slavery from a Federal territory. This decision led to increased tensions in the United States regarding slavery, which would eventually lead to the Civil War.[4]
| Details |
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| Author: Roger B. Taney
Vote Count: 5-2 Majority Justices: Henry Baldwin, James Moore Wayne, Philip Pendelton Barbour Dissenting Justice: Joseph Story Minority Justice: Smith Thompson Concurring Justice: John McLean |
Community interest over private property (1837)
In 1828, the Massachusetts legislature wanted to build a bridge and established the Warren Bridge Company to do so. Since it would compete for traffic and tolls with the nearby Charles River Bridge, the Charles River Bridge filed suit, arguing that the initial contract from the legislature was defaulted.[5] On February 12, 1837, the Supreme Court decided 5-2 in favor of the Warren Bridge, saying that the state never entered into an agreement restricting the construction of another bridge nearby the Charles River Bridge.[6] This marked a shift from national rights that were emphasized in the Marshall Court to state rights in the Taney Court.[5]
| Details |
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| Author: Roger B. Taney
Vote Count: 7-2 Majority Justices: Samuel Nelson, James M. Wayne, John Catron, Peter V. Daniel, Robert C. Grier, John A. Campbell Dissenting Justices: John McLean and Benjamin R. Curtis |
Congress and the President have the right to address creation of Republican governments (1849)
In 1841, Rhode Island was still using a system of government established in 1663. When groups came together to draft a new constitution and elect a new governor, the government declared martial law and stopped the dissidents. Martin Luther brought a suit against the Rhode Island government, since it was not "a republican form of government." On January 3, 1840, the Supreme Court ruled that it was the power of Congress and the President to address issues of creating republican forms of government and controlling domestic violence. Roger B. Taney authored the decision, with Levi Woodbury dissenting.[7]
| Details |
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| Author: Roger B. Taney
Vote Count: 9-0 Majority Justices: John McLean, James Moore Wayne, John Catron, Peter Vivian Daniel, Samuel Nelson, Robert Cooper Grier, John Archibald Campbell, Nathan Clifford |
Prisoners of the federal government cannot be released by the state (1858)
A fugitive slave named Joshua Glover was being held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Despite Sherman Booth's petitions to free Glover, he was ultimately only freed after a mob freed him. Booth was charged with aiding in freeing Glover. Booth petitioned the Supreme Court of Wisconsin for his release through a writ of habeas corpus. After being freed, he was again detained before his case was brought before the Supreme Court of the United States. On March 7, 1859, the Court reversed the decision and unanimously ruled that the Supreme Court of Wisconsin did not have the right to release Booth since he was a prisoner of the federal government.[8]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Justice Taney's Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
- ↑ Federal judicial appointments by president
- ↑ Missouri Government, “Missouri’s Dred Scott Case, 1846-1857"
- ↑ Our Documents, Dred Scott v. Sanford
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 PBS, "Landmark Cases: Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge"
- ↑ Oyez, Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge
- ↑ Oyez, Luther v. Borden
- ↑ Oyez, Ableman v. Booth
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: John Marshall |
Supreme Court 1836–1864 Seat #1 |
Succeeded by: Salmon Portland Chase
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| Jackson |
Campbell • Harper • McLean • Baldwin • Barbour • Harvey • Ellis • Irwin • Brown • Leavitt • Monroe • Tappan • Wayne • Adams • Daniel • Heath • Holman • Johnson • Judson • Taney • Wells • Catron • Wilkins | ||
