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Rufus Wheeler Peckham

Rufus Wheeler Peckham

Supreme Court of the United States

Born 1838 in Albany, NY

Died 1909 in Altamont, NY

FJC ID: 1860

Rufus W. Peckham (November 8, 1838 – October 24, 1909) was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1896 to 1909, and is the most recent Democratic nominee approved by a Republican-majority Senate. He was known for his strong use of substantive due process to invalidate regulations of business and property. Peckham's namesake father was also a lawyer and judge, and a U.S. Representative. His older brother, Wheeler Hazard Peckham (1833–1905), was one of the lawyers who prosecuted William M. Tweed and a failed nominee to the Supreme Court.

Gender
Male
Race
White

Prior employment

  1. New York State Court of Appeals
    Judge · 1886–1895
  2. Supreme Court of the State of New York
    Justice · 1883–1886
  3. Private practice, Albany, New York
    1859–1883
  4. Albany, New York
    Corporation counsel · 1881–1883
  5. Albany County, New York
    District attorney · 1869–1872

Appointments

  1. Supreme Court of the United States
    1895–1909 · Appointed by Grover Cleveland (Democratic)
    Term ended: Death

Education

  1. Read law
    1859