Another edition of Friday Fun Facts:
We have the "did you knows" about Justice Stephen Breyer. The kind of stuff you will not get on Mr. Markus's blog which concentrates on footnotes and committee history reports.
Did'ja know that everyone's favourite President James Earl Carter appointed Breyer to his first spot on the bench for the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit?
Did'ja know Justice Breyer has no relation to Breyer's ice cream?
Did'ja know that Senator Edward Moore Kennedy had recommended to President Carter that Archibald Cox be nominated for the open spot on the First Circuit Court of Appeals?
Did'ja know that Carter nominated Breyer on November 10, 1980, days after being defeated by Ronald Wilson Reagan for the presidency? (more on this in a moment)
Did'ja know that prior to being nominated to the US Court of Appeals, Breyer was chief counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee (Motto: "Vetting Supreme Court Nominees since 1787 EXCEPT during presidential election years EXCEPT sometimes during presidential election years, depending on who is president").
Did'ja know that Breyer was confirmed for the first circuit, after being nominated after President Carter lost, 80-10.
Did'ja know that Senator Kennedy's nominee- Archibald Cox, shot to fame as the solicitor general of the United States under John Kennedy, and then special prosecutor for the Watergate crimes. Cox was then fired by Nixon in what was known as The Saturday Night Massacre (not to be confused with the Great Escalator Fire of 2022).
Did'ja know that Breyer taught at Harvahard Law School, but not Mr. Markus. He specialized in administrative law.
Did'ja know that President William Jefferson Clinton passed on nominating Breyer for the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Byron Whizzer White- the only former member of the Pittsburgh Steelers to serve on the Supreme Court. Instead of Breyer, Clinton nominated the Notorious RBG. But when Justice Blackman retired, who to the best of our knowledge, never played in the NFL, Clinton pulled the trigger on Breyer so to speak. Breyer was confirmed by a vote of 87-9.
Did'ja know Breyer has Second Place as the longest-serving junior justice of the Supreme Court? Breyer served in that capacity from August 3, 1994 to January 30, 2006 when Justice Alito replaced him as the judge who answers the phone, brews the KCup coffees and goes to the door when the court is in conference. Breyer fell short of claiming the top spot by a mere 29 days, which would have entitled him to a junior justice performance bonus of one million dollars had he nailed the record.
And finally, Did'ja know that Breyer is a Francophile, who taught himself French, and like your faithful blogger, often read Le Monde at work.