SCOTUS Fun Facts!

Merrick Garland was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Barack Obama in March 2016. The Senate never voted on his nomination.

Led by Republican Senate Majority Leader “Moscow Mitch” McConnell, the Senate took no action on POTUS Barack Obama’s nominee Merrick B. Garland on March 16, 2016.

The last time the Senate had NOT considered a SCOTUS nominee was 61 years 4 months 8 days prior with Harlan Johnson, who was nominated by Dwight D. Eisenhower on November 9, 1954.

The first nominee to have NO ACTION taken upon his nomination was…
1.) Reuben Walworth, who was nominated June 17, 1844 by John Tyler, a Whig.
2.) John Read was nominated February 7, 1845 by John Tyler, a Whig.

3.) Edward Bradford was nominated August 16, 1852 by Millard Fillmore, a Whig.
4.) William Micou was nominated February 14, 1853 by Millard Fillmore, a Whig.

5.) Henry Stanbery was nominated April 16, 1866 by President Andrew Johnson, a Democrat.
6.) Stanley Matthews was nominated January 26, 1881 by Rutherford B. Hayes, a Whig-then-Republican.
7.) William Hornblower was nominated September 19, 1893 by Grover Cleveland, a Democrat.

60 years 9 months 30 days passes.

8.) Pierce Butler, who was nominated November 21, 1922 by Warren G. Harding, a Republican, was not considered.

31 years 11 months 20 days passes…

9.) Harlan Johnson was nominated by Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Republican, November 9, 1954.

61 years 4 months 8 days later…

10.) Merrick B. Garland was nominated by Barack Obama, a Democrat, March 16, 2016.

No Action Taken SCOTUS Nominees

#	Nominee	POTUS	Date Nominated
1	Reuben Walworth	John Tyler	June 17, 1844
2	John Read	John Tyler	February 7, 1845
3	Edward Bradford	Millard Fillmore	August 16, 1852
4	William Micou	Millard Fillmore	February 14, 1853
5	Henry Stanbery	Andrew Johnson	April 16, 1866
6	Stanley Matthews	Rutherford B. Hayes	January 26, 1881
7	William Hornblower	Grover Cleveland	September 19, 1893
8	Pierce Butler	Warren G. Hardin	November 21, 1922
9	Harlan Johnson	Eisenhower	November 9, 1954
10	Merrick B. Garland	Barack Obama	March 16, 2016

---

Shortest Confirmations
V=Voice Vote; All nominees confirmed

Shortest Confirmation SCOTUS Nominees

#	Nominee	POTUS	Nominated	Confirmed	Time Elapsed	To Replace	Vote
1	William Paterson	Washington	March 4, 1793	March 4, 1793	1 day	Johnson	V
2	Samuel Miller	Lincoln	July 16, 1862	July 16, 1862	1 day	Daniel	V
3	Salmon Chase	Lincoln	December 6, 1864	Deember 6, 1864	1 day	Taney	V
4	Edwin Stanton	Grant	December 20, 1869	December 20, 1869	1 day	Grier	46-11
5	James Byrnes	FDR	June 12, 1941	June 12, 1941	1 day	McReynolds	V
6	Oliver Ellsworth	Washington	March 3, 1796	March 4, 1796	2 days	Jay	21-1
7	Robert Grier	Fillmore	August 3, 1846	August 4, 1846	2 days	Baldwin	V
8	Horace Gray	Arthur	December 19, 1881	December 20, 1881	2 days	Clifford	51-5
9	John Blair	Washington	September 24, 1789	September 26, 1789	3 days	initial start	V
10	William Cushing	Washington	September 24, 1789	September 26, 1789	3 days	initial start	V
11	James Iredell	Washington	February, 8 1790	February 10, 1790	3 days	Harrison	V
12	Morrison Waite	Grant	January 19, 1874	January 21, 1874	3 days	Chase	63-0
13	Hugo Black	FDR	August 12, 1937	August 17, 1937	6 days	Van Devanter	63-16
14	Henry Brown	Harrison	December 23, 1890	December 29, 1890	7 days	Miller	V
15	Rufus Peckham	Jackson	December 3, 1895	December 9, 1895	7 days	Jackson	V
16	George Shiras, Jr.	Harrison	July 19, 1892	July 26, 1892	8 days	Bradley	V
17	Ward Hunt	Grant	December 3, 1872	December 11, 1872	9 days	Nelson	V
18	Samuel Blatchford	Arthur	March 13, 1882	March 22, 1882	10 days	Hunt	V
19	Benjamin Cardozo	Hoover	February 15, 1932	Feburary 24, 1932	10 days	Holmes	V
20	Charles Hughes	Hoover	Feburary 3, 1930	February 13, 1930	11 days	Taft	52-26
21	Stanley Reed	FDR	Jaunury 15, 1938	January 25, 1938	11 days	Sutherland	V
22	Owen Roberts	Hoover	May 9, 1930	May 20, 1930	12 days	Sanford	V
23	Felix Frankfurter	FDR	January 5, 1939	January 17, 1939	13 days	Cardozo	V
24	Frank Murphy	FDR	January 4, 1940	January 16, 1940	13 days	Butler	V
25	David Brewer	Harrison	December 4, 1889	December 18, 1889	16 days	Matthews	53-11
26	William Douglas	FDR	March 20, 1939	April 4, 1939	16 days	Brandeis	62-4
27	Harlan Stone	FDR	June 12, 1941	Jun 27, 1941	16 days	Hughes	V
28	Howell Jackson	Harrison	February 2, 1893	February 18, 1893	17 days	Lamar	V
29	Robert Jackson	FDR	June 12, 1941	July 7, 1941	26 days	Stone	V
30	Wiley Rutledge	FDR	January 11, 1943	February 8, 1943	29 days	Byrnes	V

---

data from United States Senate
Supreme Court Nominations (1789-Present)
https://www.senate.gov/legislative/nominations/SupremeCourtNominations1789present.htm

There have been 164 nominations to the Court, including those for Chief Justice, of which 127 were confirmed, with 7 who declined to serve following confirmation.

V = Voice Vote
120 nominees were Confirmed and served.
7 of 127 Nominees were confirmed but Declined to serve.
10 had No Action taken upon their nomination.
3 nominees were Postponed.
12 nominees were Rejected.
12 nominees were Withdrawn.

In this list of 30 nominees none were 30 days, or over, from time of nomination to confirmation, and represents 23.62% of all confirmed nominees. Of the 120 who served, it represents 25%.

Of the 30 in this list, there were 8 counted votes for confirmation, or 26.66%; conversely, 73.33% were confirmed on a Voice vote.

Of the 30 in this list, 5 (16.66%) were nominated and confirmed the same day.

Of the 30 in this list, 17 (56.66%) were nominated and confirmed in less than 10 days, while 19 (63.33%) were nominated and confirmed in 10 days, or less.