University of Virginia Library

SOCIAL STATUS OF THE JUSTICES

In Washington's complicated system of social precedence the Supreme Court takes a high place. Tradition has it that President Washington, at his first state dinner after the appointment of Chief Justice Jay, said:

"The chief justice of the United States will sit at my right."

Ever since that time the justices have taken rank next to the President and the

Vice-President in Washington society, and their wives make first calls only at the White House and the Home of the Vice-President. There has been much contention, on the part of Senators and Cabinet members, as to the right of the Supreme Court to this preferment, but the justices refuse to take part in any controversy so undignified. It is their custom to solve such problems by remaining away from any function where embarrassing questions of precedence might arise.

Each justice has a negro messenger, or body-servant, as they were formerly designated. These privileged retainers are old negroes who have grown gray in the service, and their positions seem to be no less permanent than those of the justices themselves, who are appointed for life. When a justice dies or retires from the bench, his messenger goes to his successor, and of these old servants it may be truly said, as was once said of Cabinet ministers, that "few die, none resign."

When Justice McReynolds was appointed, two years ago, he caused a great commotion among the messengers by insisting upon naming his own servitor, instead of accepting the one who had served his predecessor.

The messengers have charge of the "robing-room," an anteroom near the court chamber. On each day when the court is in session, the justices repair to the robing-room shortly before noon. There the long, black gowns are hanging on a series of pegs, arranged in the order of their owners' precedence. The judges remove their hats and coats in the order of precedence, and each is in turn robed by his messenger. Then they are ready for the solemn entry into the court-room.

When a messenger becomes too old for his duties, he is transferred to a place as doorkeeper, or to some similar light service, and remains on the pay-roll until death comes. When he dies, it is the kindly custom of the judges to attend the funeral in a body.

Each justice is also provided with a private secretary. A trained young lawyer is usually selected for this position, and the secretary takes a great deal of routine work from the shoulders of the hard-worked judges.