George Shiras Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Shirasc. 1899 | |
| Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States | |
| In office October 10, 1892 – February 23, 1903 | |
| Nominated by | Benjamin Harrison |
| Preceded by | Joseph Bradley |
| Succeeded by | William Day |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1832-01-26)January 26, 1832 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | August 2, 1924(1924-08-02) (aged 92) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Resting place | Allegheny Cemetery |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Yale University (BA) |
| Signature | .png) |
George Shiras Jr. (January 26, 1832 – August 2, 1924) was an American lawyer who served as anassociate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1892 to 1903.[1] At that time of his appointment, he had 37 years of private legal practice but had never judged a case. He is noted for his conservative voting with the majority inPollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co. and inPlessy v. Ferguson.
Shiras was born inPittsburgh,Pennsylvania, January 26, 1832. He attendedOhio University and then graduated fromYale College,Phi Beta Kappa, in 1853.[2] He began law school atYale Law School, but left before earning a law degree.[3] He finished his training byreading law at a law office, then practiced law inDubuque, Iowa, from 1855 to 1858, and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1858 to 1892. In Pittsburgh, he became a prominent corporate attorney, and he was noted for his honesty and pragmatism while representing some of the nation's industrial giants.[citation needed]
On July 19, 1892, Shiras was nominated by PresidentBenjamin Harrison as anassociate justice, to succeedJoseph P. Bradley.[4] He was recommended for the post by his third cousin, Secretary of StateJames G. Blaine. Shiras was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on July 26, 1892,[4] and took the judicial oath of office on October 10, 1892.[5]
Although Shiras sat on the Court for more than 10 years authoring 253 majority decisions and 14 dissents, he is noted for his votes on just two landmark cases,Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co. (1895), andPlessy v. Ferguson (1896).[3] He sided with the majority in the 5–4 decision inPollock to strike down the Income Tax Act of 1894 as unconstitutional. Some historians believe Shiras was the pivotal Justice who switched his vote, while other historians suspect that it was either JusticeHorace Gray or JusticeDavid Brewer.[3] Regardless, the ruling inPollock led to the need for a constitutional amendment to impose a federal income tax, and in 1913, theSixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified. Shiras also voted with the 7–1 majority inPlessy v. Ferguson, which upheld the constitutionality ofracial segregation under the doctrine ofseparate but equal, and which was effectively overruled in 1954.
Shiras retired from the Supreme Court on February 23, 1903.[5] He died on August 2, 1924, inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a result of a fall followed bypneumonia.[6] He is buried inAllegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh.[7]
His son,George Shiras III, served as a member of theUnited States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania.
TheWorld War IILiberty shipSS George Shiras was named in his honor.
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| Preceded by | Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States 1892–1903 | Succeeded by |
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