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Constitution of the United States


  
 
 
Supreme Court Nominations, present-1789 (1789-present) 
The Constitution requires the president to submit nominations to the Senate for its advice and consent. Since the Supreme Court was established in 1789, presidents have submitted 160 nominations for the Court, including those for chief justice. Of this total, 124 were confirmed (7 declined to serve). This chart lists nominations officially submitted to the Senate.
 

Nominee

To Replace

Nominated

Vote

Result & Date

President Barack Obama
Elena KaganStevensMay 10, 201063-37  No.  229CAug 5, 2010
Sonia SotomayorSouterJun 1, 200968-31  No.  262CAug 6, 2009
President George W. Bush
Samuel Alito, Jr.O'ConnorNov 10, 200558-42  No.  2CJan 31, 2006
Harriet MiersO'ConnorOct 7, 2005WOct 28, 2005
John Roberts, Jr.1RehnquistSep 6, 200578-22  No.  245CSep 29, 2005
John Roberts, Jr.O'ConnorJul 29, 2005WSep 6, 2005
President Bill Clinton
Stephen BreyerBlackmunMay 17, 199487-9  No.  242CJul 29, 1994
Ruth Bader GinsburgWhiteJun 14, 199396-3  No.  232CAug 3, 1993
President George H.W. Bush
Clarence ThomasMarshallJul 8, 199152-48  No.  220COct 15, 1991
David SouterBrennanJul 25, 199090-9  No.  259COct 2, 1990
President Ronald Reagan
Anthony KennedyPowellNov 30, 198797-0  No.  16CFeb 3, 1988
Robert BorkPowellJul 1, 198742-58  No.  348ROct 23, 1987
Antonin ScaliaRehnquistJun 24, 198698-0  No.  267CSep 17, 1986
William Rehnquist2BurgerJun 20, 198665-33  No.  266CSep 17, 1986
Sandra Day O'ConnorStewartAug 19, 198199-0  No.  274CSep 21, 1981
President Gerald Ford
John Paul StevensDouglasNov 28, 197598-0  No.  603CDec 17, 1975
President Richard Nixon
William RehnquistHarlanOct 22, 197168-26  No.  450CDec 10, 1971
Lewis Powell, Jr.BlackOct 22, 197189-1  No.  439CDec 6, 1971
Harry BlackmunFortasApr 15, 197094-0  No.  143CMay 12, 1970
G. Harrold CarswellFortasJan 19, 197045-51  No.  122RApr 8, 1970
Clement Haynsworth, Jr.FortasAug 21, 196945-55  No.  154RNov 21, 1969
Warren Burger3WarrenMay 23, 196974-3  No.  35CJun 9, 1969
President Lyndon Johnson
Homer ThornberryFortasJun 26, 1968N
Abe Fortas4WarrenJun 26, 1968WOct 4, 1968
Thurgood MarshallClarkJun 13, 196769-11  No.  240CAug 30, 1967
Abe FortasGoldbergJul 28, 1965VCAug 11, 1965
President John Kennedy
Arthur GoldbergFrankfurterAug 31, 1962VCSep 25, 1962
Byron WhiteWhittakerApr 3, 1962VCApr 11, 1962
President Dwight Eisenhower
Potter StewartBurtonJan 17, 195970-17CMay 5, 1959
Charles WhittakerReedMar 2, 1957VCMar 19, 1957
William Brennan, Jr.MintonJan 14, 1957VCMar 19, 1957
John HarlanJacksonJan 10, 195571-11CMar 16, 1955
John HarlanJacksonNov 9, 1954N
Earl Warren5VinsonJan 11, 1954VCMar 1, 1954
President Harry Truman
Sherman MintonRutledgeSep 15, 194948-16COct 4, 1949
Tom ClarkMurphyAug 2, 194973-8CAug 18, 1949
Fred Vinson6StoneJun 6, 1946VCJun 20, 1946
Harold BurtonRobertsSep 19, 1945VCSep 19, 1945
President Franklin Roosevelt
Wiley RutledgeByrnesJan 11, 1943VCFeb 8, 1943
Robert JacksonStoneJun 12, 1941VCJul 7, 1941
James ByrnesMcReynoldsJun 12, 1941VCJun 12, 1941
Harlan Stone7HughesJun 12, 1941VCJun 27, 1941
Frank MurphyButlerJan 4, 1940VCJan 16, 1940
William DouglasBrandeisMar 20, 193962-4CApr 4, 1939
Felix FrankfurterCardozoJan 5, 1939VCJan 17, 1939
Stanley ReedSutherlandJan 15, 1938VCJan 25, 1938
Hugo BlackVan DevanterAug 12, 193763-16CAug 17, 1937
President Herbert Hoover
Benjamin CardozoHolmesFeb 15, 1932VCFeb 24, 1932
Owen RobertsSanfordMay 9, 1930VCMay 20, 1930
John ParkerSanfordMar 21, 193039-41RMay 7, 1930
Charles Hughes8TaftFeb 3, 193052-26CFeb 13, 1930
President Calvin Coolidge
Harlan StoneMcKennaJan 5, 192571-6CFeb 5, 1925
President Warren Harding
Edward SanfordPitneyJan 24, 1923VCJan 29, 1923
Pierce ButlerDayDec 5, 192261-8CDec 21, 1922
Pierce ButlerDayNov 21, 1922N
George SutherlandClarkeSep 5, 1922VCSep 5, 1922
William Taft9WhiteJun 30, 1921VCJun 30, 1921
President Woodrow Wilson
John ClarkeHughesJul 14, 1916VCJul 24, 1916
Louis BrandeisLamarJan 28, 191647-22CJun 1, 1916
James McReynoldsLurtonAug 19, 191444-6CAug 29, 1914
President William Taft
Mahlon PitneyHarlanFeb 19, 191250-26CMar 13, 1912
Joseph LamarMoodyDec 12, 1910VCDec 15, 1910
Willis Van DevanterWhiteDec 12, 1910VCDec 15, 1910
Edward White10FullerDec 12, 1910VCDec 12, 1910
Charles HughesBrewerApr 25, 1910VCMay 2, 1910
Horace LurtonPeckhamDec 13, 1909VCDec 20, 1909
President Theodore Roosevelt
William MoodyBrownDec 3, 1906VCDec 12, 1906
William DayShirasFeb 19, 1903VCFeb 23, 1903
Oliver HolmesGrayDec 2, 1902VCDec 4, 1902
President William McKinley
Joseph McKennaFieldDec 16, 1897VCJan 21, 1898
President Grover Cleveland
Rufus PeckhamJacksonDec 3, 1895VCDec 9, 1895
Edward WhiteBlatchfordFeb 19, 1894VCFeb 19, 1894
Wheeler PeckhamBlatchfordJan 22, 189432-41RFeb 16, 1894
William HornblowerBlatchfordDec 5, 189324-30RJan 15, 1894
William HornblowerBlatchfordSep 19, 1893N
President Benjamin Harrison
Howell JacksonLamarFeb 2, 1893VCFeb 18, 1893
George Shiras, Jr.BradleyJul 19, 1892VCJul 26, 1892
Henry BrownMillerDec 23, 1890VCDec 29, 1890
David BrewerMatthewsDec 4, 188953-11CDec 18, 1889
President Grover Cleveland
Melville Fuller11WaiteApr 30, 188841-20CJul 20, 1888
Lucius LamarWoodsDec 6, 188732-28CJan 16, 1888
President Chester Arthur
Samuel BlatchfordHuntMar 13, 1882VCMar 22, 1882
Roscoe ConklingHuntFeb 24, 188239-12DMar 2, 1882
Horace GrayCliffordDec 19, 188151-5CDec 20, 1881
President James Garfield
Stanley MatthewsSwayneMar 14, 188124-23CMay 12, 1881
President Rutherford Hayes
Stanley MatthewsSwayneJan 26, 1881N
William WoodsStrongDec 15, 188039-8CDec 21, 1880
John HarlanDavisOct 16, 1877VCNov 29, 1877
President Ulysses Grant
Morrison Waite12ChaseJan 19, 187463-0CJan 21, 1874
Caleb Cushing13ChaseJan 9, 1874WJan 13, 1874
George Williams14ChaseDec 1, 1873WJan 8, 1874
Ward HuntNelsonDec 3, 1872VCDec 11, 1872
Joseph Bradley(new seat)Feb 7, 187046-9CMar 21, 1870
William StrongGrierFeb 7, 1870CFeb 18, 1870
Edwin Stanton15GrierDec 20, 186946-11CDec 20, 1869
Ebenezer Hoar(new seat)Dec 14, 186924-33RFeb 3, 1870
President Andrew Johnson
Henry StanberyCatronApr 16, 1866N
President Abraham Lincoln
Salmon Chase16TaneyDec 6, 1864VCDec 6, 1864
Stephen Field(new seat)Mar 6, 1863VCMar 10, 1863
David DavisCampbellDec 1, 1862VCDec 8, 1862
Samuel MillerDanielJul 16, 1862VCJul 16, 1862
Noah SwayneMcLeanJan 21, 186238-1CJan 24, 1862
President James Buchanan
Jeremiah BlackDanielFeb 5, 186125-26RFeb 21, 1861
Nathan CliffordCurtisDec 9, 185726-23CJan 12, 1858
President Franklin Pierce
John CampbellMcKinleyMar 21, 1853VCMar 22, 1853
President Millard Fillmore
William MicouMcKinleyFeb 14, 1853N
Geoge BadgerMcKinleyJan 3, 1853WFeb 14, 1853
Edward BradfordMcKinleyAug 16, 1852N
Benjamin CurtisWoodburyDec 11, 1851VCDec 20, 1851
President James Polk
Robert GrierBaldwinAug 3, 1846VCAug 4, 1846
Levi WoodburyStoryDec 23, 1845VCJan 31, 1846
George WoodwardBaldwinDec 23, 184520-29RJan 22, 1846
President John Tyler
John ReadBaldwinFeb 7, 1845N
Samuel NelsonThompsonFeb 4, 1845VCFeb 14, 1845
Reuben WalworthThompsonDec 4, 1844WFeb 4, 1845
Edward KingBaldwinDec 4, 1844WFeb 7, 1845
Reuben Walworth17ThompsonJun 17, 1844NJun 17, 1844
John SpencerThompsonJun 17, 1844WJun 17, 1844
Edward KingBaldwinJun 5, 184429-18PJun 15, 1844
Reuben WalworthThompsonMar 13, 184427-20WJun 17, 1844
John SpencerThompsonJan 9, 184421-26RJan 31, 1844
President Martin Van Buren
Peter DanielBarbourFeb 26, 184125-5CMar 2, 1841
John McKinley(new seat)Sep 18, 1837VCSep 25, 1837
President Andrew Jackson
John Catron(new seat)Mar 3, 183728-15CMar 8, 1837
William Smith(new seat)Mar 3, 183723-18DMar 8, 1837
Philip BarbourDuvallDec 28, 183530-11CMar 15, 1836
Roger Taney18MarshallDec 28, 183529-15CMar 15, 1836
Roger TaneyDuvallJan 15, 183524-21PMar 3, 1835
James WayneJohnsonJan 6, 1835VCJan 9, 1835
Henry BaldwinWashingtonJan 4, 183041-2CJan 6, 1830
John McLeanTrimbleMar 6, 1829VCMar 7, 1829
President John Quincy Adams
John CrittendenTrimbleDec 17, 182823-17PFeb 12, 1829
Robert TrimbleToddApr 11, 182627-5CMay 9, 1826
President James Monroe
Smith ThompsonLivingstonDec 5, 1823VCDec 9, 1823
President James Madison
Gabriel DuvallChaseNov 15, 1811VCNov 18, 1811
Joseph StoryCushingNov 15, 1811VCNov 18, 1811
John Quincy AdamsCushingFeb 21, 1811DFeb 22, 1811
Alexander WolcottCushingFeb 4, 18119-24RFeb 13, 1811
Levi LincolnCushingJan 2, 1811DJan 3, 1811
President Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Todd(new seat)Feb 28, 1807VCMar 2, 1807
H. Brockholst LivingstonPatersonDec 13, 1806VCDec 17, 1806
William JohnsonMooreMar 22, 1804VCMar 24, 1804
President John Adams
John Marshall19EllsworthJan 20, 1801VCJan 27, 1801
John Jay20EllsworthDec 18, 1800DDec 19, 1800
Alfred MooreIredellDec 4, 1799VCDec 10, 1799
Bushrod WashingtonWilsonDec 19, 1798VCDec 20, 1798
President George Washington
Oliver Ellsworth21JayMar 3, 179621-1CMar 4, 1796
Samuel ChaseBlairJan 26, 1796VCJan 27, 1796
William Cushing22JayJan 26, 1796DJan 27, 1796
John Rutledge23JayDec 10, 179510-14RDec 15, 1795
William PatersonJohnsonMar 4, 1793VCMar 4, 1793
William PatersonJohnsonFeb 27, 1793WFeb 28, 1793
Thomas JohnsonRutledgeNov 1, 1791VCNov 7, 1791
James IredellHarrisonFeb 8, 1790VCFeb 10, 1790
John BlairSep 24, 1789VCSep 26, 1789
James WilsonSep 24, 1789VCSep 26, 1789
Robert HarrisonSep 24, 1789DSep 26, 1789
William CushingSep 24, 1789VCSep 26, 1789
John RutledgeSep 24, 1789VCSep 26, 1789
John Jay24Sep 24, 1789VCSep 26, 1789
 
This chart lists only nominations officially submitted to the Senate, and does not include nominations announced but never officially submitted (such as Douglas Ginsburg in 1987).
 
The date of the nomination is the date on the president’s letter to the Senate (except the undated 1937 Hugo Black letter). Some nominees may have been serving before this date under recess appointments.
 
Vote Key:Result Key:
89-7 No. 242 (for example) - Tally and roll call vote numberC - Confirmed and served (117) 25
V - Voice VoteD - Declined (7)
 N - No Action (10)
 P - Postponed (3)
 R - Rejected (12)
 W - Withdrawn (11)
 
  1. Nominated to chief justice.
  2. Sitting justice elevated to chief justice.
  3. Nominated to chief justice.
  4. Sitting justice nominated to chief justice; nomination filibustered and withdrawn.
  5. Nominated to chief justice.
  6. Nominated to chief justice.
  7. Sitting justice elevated to chief justice.
  8. Nominated to chief justice.
  9. Nominated to chief justice.
  10. Sitting justice elevated to chief justice.
  11. Nominated to chief justice.
  12. Nominated to chief justice.
  13. Unsuccessful nominee for chief justice.
  14. Unsuccessful nominee for chief justice.
  15. Confirmed, but died before he took office.
  16. Nominated to chief justice.
  17. On motion to proceed to consider the nomination, an objection was made.
  18. Nominated to chief justice.
  19. Nominated to chief justice.
  20. Nominated to chief justice.
  21. Nominated to chief justice.
  22. Sitting justice nominated to chief justice, but declined and continued to serve as an associate justice.
  23. Offered his services as a replacement for the soon-to-retire John Jay in June 1795, so President Washington offered him a temporary commission (Senate was in recess). The Senate convened in December and voted on the nomination, making Rutledge the first rejected Supreme Court nominee and the only "recess appointed" justice not to be subsequently confirmed by the Senate.
  24. Nominated to chief justice.
  25. 7 nominees (see D in Result Key) were confirmed, but declined to serve.
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