Rufus Wheeler Peckham

Rufus Wheeler Peckham

Nonpartisan

Prior offices

Supreme Court of the United States

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Education

Law

Read law, 1859

Personal

Birthplace

Albany, N.Y.

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Rufus Wheeler Peckham (1838-1909) was an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. He joined the court in 1895 after a nomination from President Grover Cleveland. He served until his death on October 24, 1909. Prior to joining the court, he was a justice on the State of New York Court of Appeals.

Peckham was one of six justices nominated to the court by President Cleveland, though only four were confirmed. He served during The Fuller Court.

Education

Peckham received his legal education by reading law.

Professional career

• 1886-1895: Justice, State of New York Court of Appeals
• 1883-1886: Justice, Supreme Court of the State of New York
• 1881-1883: Corporation counsel, City of Albany, New York
• 1869-1872: District attorney, Albany County, New York
• 1859-1883: Attorney in private practice, Albany, New York

Judicial nominations and appointments

Supreme Court of the United States

Peckham was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Grover Cleveland on December 3, 1895, to a seat vacated by Justice Howell Edmunds Jackson. He was confirmed by the Senate on December 9, 1895, and received commission that same day. He served until his death on October 24, 1909. He was succeeded to this post by Justice Horace Harmon Lurton.

Noteworthy cases

Details
Author: Rufus Wheeler Peckham Vote Count: 5-4 Majority Justices: Brewer, McKenna, Brown, Fuller Minority Justices: Harlan I, White, Day, Holmes

Lochner v. New York (1905)

In 1897, New York passed the Bakeshop Act, which said “no employee shall be ... permitted to work in a biscuit, bread, or cake bakery or confectionery establishment more than sixty hours in any one week.” When the owner of Lochner’s Home Bakery, Joseph Lochner, was fined $50.00 and sentenced to jail time of fifty days until he paid the fine for allowing an employee to work over sixty hours, he appealed to the New York Court of Appeals. On April 17, 1905, the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 ruling stating that freedom to contract was protected by the Fourteenth Amendment's substantive due process clause.

See also

• Supreme Court of the United States

External links

• Justice Peckham's Biography from the Federal Judicial Center

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by: Howell Edmunds Jackson	Supreme Court 1895–1909 Seat #4	Succeeded by: Horace Harmon Lurton