Every Supreme Court seat, 1789 to today Each row is a seat. Bars are justices' tenures; hatched gaps are vacancies, from the day one justice left to the day the next took the oath. Rows start and end where Congress created or abolished a seat. Drag the date to see the Court on any day.
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← The Court on November 7, 2026 Associate Justice, Seat 4
James Wilson Born September 14, 1742, Carskerdo, Scotland Died August 21, 1798
Served October 5, 1789 – August 21, 1798 (8 years, 10 months) Appointed by George Washington (No party) Left the seat Died in office Seat Associate Seat 4 · new seat, 1 Stat. 73 Predecessor None (first in this seat) Successor Bushrod Washington Appointment record September 24, 1789 Nominated September 26, 1789 Confirmed (voice vote) September 29, 1789 Commissioned October 5, 1789 Judicial oath The Court's list takes this date from “some other unquestionable authority.” August 21, 1798 Died in office