Melville Weston Fuller
Melville Fuller (1833-1910) served as the Supreme Court's eighth Chief Justice.[1] He joined the court in 1888 after a nomination from Grover Cleveland and confirmation by the Senate. At the time of nomination, he was a private practice attorney in Chicago, IL. He served until his death on July 4, 1910.[1]
Early life and education
Professional career
- 1856-1888: Private practice, Chicago, Illinois
- 1863-1865: Illinois state representative
- 1862: Delegate, Illinois Constitutional Convention
- 1855-1856: Private practice, Augusta, Maine
- 1855-1856: Editor, Augusta Age
- 1856: President, Common Council of Augusta, Maine
- 1856: City solicitor, Augusta, Maine[1]
Judicial nominations and appointments
Supreme Court of the United States
Fuller was nominated by President Grover Cleveland on April 30, 1888. He was confirmed by the Senate on July 20, 1888, and received commission that same day. He served until his death on July 4, 1910.[1] He was succeeded to this post by Edward Douglass White.
Noteworthy cases
| Details |
|---|
| Author: Melville Fuller
Concurring Justices: Field Dissenting Justices: White and Harlan |
National income tax is unconstitutional (1895)
In 1894, Congress passed the national income tax. The unconstitutionality of the tax was soon determined by the Supreme Court, which found that while states have the authority to impose taxes, the federal government could only impose taxes according to a state's representation in Congress. It would not be until 1913, with the ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment, that a federal income tax would be constitutional.[2]
| Details |
|---|
| Author: Melville Fuller
Vote Count: 8-1 Majority Justices: Field, Gray, Brewer, Brown, Shiras, Jr., Jackson, White Dissenting Justice: Harlan |
Manufacturing is not affected by the Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1895)
In 1890, Congress passed the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, which outlawed monopolies in transportation, industry and commerce. The question before the Supreme Court was if this Act was unconstitutional because of the Commerce Clause. The Supreme Court determined that although it was constitutional, the law did not apply to manufacturing. In the specific case of the E.C. Knight Company, the monopoly was a result of interstate commerce and, therefore, was not affected by the trust.[3]
See also
External links
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Morrison Waite |
Supreme Court 1888–1910 Seat #1 |
Succeeded by: Edward Douglass White
|
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|---|---|---|---|
| 1886 | |||
| 1887 | |||
| 1888 |
Allen • Fuller • Jenkins • Lacombe • Lamar • Maxey • Montgomery • Philips | ||
| 1893 |
Alvey • Bellinger • Bingham • Lurton • Morris • Seaman • Shepard • Simonton | ||
| 1894 | |||
| 1895 | |||
| 1896 |
Brown • Carland • Kirkpatrick • Lochren • Marshall • McHugh • Rogers | ||
| 1897 | |||
