QUESTIONS:
1. In the recent speculation that one or more Supreme Court justices would soon retire, it has been pointed out that, in more than 180 years, this has been the longest period the court has gone without any justice quitting. When was the last time a Supreme Court justice retired?
2. In this century, three justices went on to seek elective office after resigning from the Supreme Court. How many can you name?
3. What two justices went on to serve as secretary of state after leaving the bench?
4. Who was the last justice of the Supreme Court to have previously served in the House of Representatives?
5. How many current justices did not serve on a lower federal court before going to the Supreme Court?
ANSWERS:
1. 1994, when Justice Byron White retired and was succeeded by present Justice Stephen Breyer.
2. Justice Charles Evans Hughes left to become the Republican nominee for President in 1916. Justice James F. Byrnes resigned in 1942 and went on to be elected governor of South Carolina in 1954. Justice Arthur Goldberg left the court and became the Democratic nominee for governor of New York in 1970.
3. Hughes, who was secretary of state from 1921-30, and Byrnes, who was secretary of state from 1945-47
4. Fred M. Vinson, Democratic U.S. representative from Kentucky from 1924-28 and 1930-38 and chief justice from 1946-53.
5. Only one-Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist.
